Chapter 378
Chapter 378
-----------------------------------------------------------------
>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 99
>Chapter Title: That Day (4)
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
The origins of the Heaven-Earth-Moon Lineages can be traced back to the fall of the ancient martial world.
After the day of the great catastrophe, hundreds of sects were wiped out, and the number of martial artists who perished was too vast to count.
Yet those who barely survived that day became the roots of the present martial world.
Originally, the Heavenly Lineage, Earthly Lineage, and Moon Lineage all stemmed from a single source.
Yang Biryu, the Keeper of the Hidden Martial Scriptures.
He was an unparalleled martial artist who managed the most treasured hidden martial scripture of an organization that pursued pure martial prowess.
The reason he could become the Keeper of the Hidden Martial Scriptures there was not only due to his formidable strength but also because he had been castrated, rendering him unable to have children, and had lost his sight, unable to see ahead.
As the Keeper of the Hidden Martial Scriptures for that martial organization, he lived deep underground, emerging only once every six days for a single day of rest.
“In essence, he lived there.”
-That’s probably right.
Yang Biryu, who guarded the martial scripture, went outside for his day of rest as usual, only to confront a shocking reality.
The massive scripture library, the vast manor, and even the fortress that should have been above were all gone.
Unable to see, the only scents he could detect were the thick stench of blood, a foul odor he had never smelled before, and the smell of ashes from what had burned.
-Shocked beyond measure, he wandered for three days and nights searching for survivors, but in the end, he realized he was the sole survivor and left that place.
Though unable to have children and born blind as a monk, he had pledged unwavering loyalty to the massive organization that had taken him in. The reality was too devastating for him, but he could not remain in a place devoid of everyone.
After leaving the ruins, after much deliberation, he took with him a single manual he had been guarding.
Unable to bear letting that sole remnant and vital scripture of the organization perish, he wandered the world his entire life with the mission to hand it over if he ever found a survivor.
Yet even after ten years, no survivors appeared.
While searching for survivors, he chanced upon three orphans on the brink of starvation in a slum and saved them, which led him to take them under his wing.
“No way, those were...?”
-Yes. The three founders of the Heaven-Earth-Moon Lineages.
Coming from the slums, they had no family name, only given names.
Yang Biryu, who had taken them in out of loneliness, raised them like his own children and even taught them his unique martial arts so they could protect themselves.
Even though he taught them martial arts, Yang Biryu could not reveal his origins and thus did not tell them the name of the art.
-Despite taking in children, he wandered for a long time but never found any survivors, ultimately passing away from old age and chronic illness in a small village.
He died suddenly without leaving any last words, plunging the three brothers he had taken in into deep contemplation.
Yang Biryu, shrouded in many secrets, had not told them much, so they didn’t even know whom to seek. After discussion, they agreed to burn it.
Since even their adoptive father had never dared to touch it, deeming it untouchable, they sought to honor his will by destroying it.
However,
-Their agreement did not come to pass as planned.
“Greed, after all?”
-To those who had learned martial arts, it was no different from a supreme treasure. Only after Yang Biryu’s death did they see its contents for the first time, and they could not overcome their desire.
“So that’s how they split?”
-Yes.
Taking their names from individual characters in the name of the Yang Biryu who had saved them, they became the founders of the Heavenly Lineage, Earthly Lineage, and Moon Lineage, standing in opposition for a long time over possession of the manual.
As their opposition dragged on and their forces grew, external enemies emerged.
Realizing that three lineages sharing the same roots fighting endlessly was meaningless, they forged a pact in later generations.
That was the Alliance Tournament duel.
The divided three lineages would unite into a single assembly, and the leader of that assembly would claim the manual.
That manual was the Breaking Thoughts Eight Forms.
* * *
Thus, the day of the final duel to decide the assembly leader drew near.
The duel’s venue was the Moon Lineage’s training grounds.
For Clan Head Ryu Gang, this day carried special significance.
Just eight years prior, he had lost all motivation, believing everything would go to the Heavenly Lineage.
But now, everyone saw the Moon Lineage’s Young Leader as the frontrunner for assembly leader.
‘Darling. Hoon. Look how much little Sowol has grown.’
Over a decade had passed since they left this world, so why did he miss them so keenly now?
With that thought, he headed to the annex where their memorial tablets were kept.
Entering the annex, he froze in surprise.
Someone was inside.
[You?]
It was the Heavenly Lineage’s Young Leader, Bi Yongheon.
He had expected him to be preparing for tomorrow’s final duel, so why was he here?
Puzzled, he saw Bi Yongheon staring intently at something, grinding his teeth.
-Grind!
Then Bi Yongheon stepped out and faced him.
[Clan Head.]
[What brings you here?]
[······I came to pay respects to Brother Hoon.]
[Ah, I see.]
The Young Leader before Ryu Sowol had been Ryu Hoon.
Thus, Bi Yongheon had built a camaraderie sparring with him many times.
Understanding this, Clan Head Ryu Gang nodded in comprehension.
Yet the memorial tablets were not in that direction—why had the Heavenly Lineage’s Young Leader been glaring in fury the other way?
[I’ll head to the guest quarters now.]
[Very well.]
After seeing him off, Clan Head Ryu Gang entered and let out a faint sigh.
[Ah······.]
What Bi Yongheon had been staring at was none other than the portrait of Ryu Sowol and the man she loved.
He had hung their portraits there to show his late wife and child.
To see that of all things—quite disheartening.
Moreover, unintentionally, Ryu Sowol was depicted in bridal attire, making it worse.
‘How tragic.’
He knew well that Heavenly Lineage’s Young Leader Bi Yongheon harbored feelings for Ryu Sowol as a woman.
That was why the Heavenly Lineage’s Clan Head had made that proposal.
But they had,
‘No chance.’
Even if Bi Yongheon won the final duel, he would never win Sowol’s heart.
Her resolve was that firm.
* * *
[Aaahhh!]
Ryu Sowol roared toward the sky.
All those from the Moon Lineage on the western side cheered at her bellow.
And rightly so—she had ultimately triumphed in the final duel.
The final duel had been intensely fierce.
This was because Heavenly Lineage’s Young Leader Bi Yongheon, just like her, had broken through his wall over the past year.
Had she not endured grueling training for that year, she might have lost.
Yet she emerged victorious after nearly two hours of brutal combat.
‘I won······. I won······.’
Ryu Sowol was overjoyed.
Her preparations, assuming Bi Yongheon would grow as strong as her, had paid off perfectly.
Breaking through a wall was a realm of enlightenment; many trained for decades without reaching it, but she was certain he would reach the same level as her.
[Haa······ haa······.]
After her roar and basking in joy, she looked at Heavenly Lineage’s Young Leader Bi Yongheon, collapsed on the ground.
He must be deeply heartbroken.
This duel was different from all previous ones.
It decided the leader of the three lineages and the owner of the supreme manual, Breaking Thoughts Eight Forms.
And,
‘That was your last chance to have me.’
But with this defeat, the Heavenly Lineage Clan Head’s proposal was utterly void.
Ryu Sowol approached Bi Yongheon, who stared blankly.
Though she didn’t love him as a man and they had fought for their clans, he was also a longtime friend.
With no more need to fight, it was time to embrace him.
She extended her hand to Heavenly Lineage’s Young Leader Bi Yongheon and said,
“Take my hand······.”
-Flinch!
In that instant, chills ran down Ryu Sowol’s spine.
Lifting his head, Bi Yongheon glared at her murderously, tears streaming down his face.
Even in heartbreak from defeat, could he be this enraged?
As she stood bewildered, Bi Yongheon spoke.
“You······ finally······ drove······ me······ to······ the end······ didn’t you.”
[······Yongheon.]
“Don’t······ call me.”
“You······.”
-Smack!
Bi Yongheon slapped away her outstretched hand.
Then he rose on his own, clasped his hands in a formal salute, and left the training grounds.
Watching his retreating figure, Ryu Sowol felt an eerie foreboding.
Why didn’t his demeanor feel like mere heartbreak?
* * *
Three months passed since then.
The three lineages’ alliance ceremony proceeded smoothly, and with the assembly leader inauguration imminent, Ryu Sowol’s expression was utterly emotionless.
Guard Captain Hwa Yeon looked at her with pity.
[Sigh.]
Ryu Sowol was even smoking a pipe she never touched before, burning tobacco leaves.
The thick smoke around her spoke to her depressed state.
After the final duel, she had rushed to meet her beloved, only to return days later in profound despair.
He hadn’t appeared.
As if abandoned, steeped in sorrow and heartbreak, she secluded herself for nearly eight days before emerging.
Since then, she had stared blankly at the Breaking Thoughts Eight Forms, practicing nothing else, her face devoid of emotion, pipe in mouth.
‘Oh, young lady.’
Her state was utterly heartbreaking.
All one could do was hope she overcame it.
Incidentally, assuming the supreme manual held forms or techniques, she merely read it endlessly.
What could be written in it to make her like that? Though curious, hoping she forgot her sorrow through martial practice, no one asked.
Nor did they have the right to.
But as night deepened into dawn, Guard Captain Hwa Yeon cautiously broached the subject.
“Young Leader—no, Assembly Leader······. With the inauguration tomorrow, wouldn’t it be best to rest a little? I worry you’ll harm your health from exhaustion.”
“Don’t worry. Go inside and sleep.”
“How can I, your guard, sleep first?”
“Then just leave me be. It’s not like I’ll die from lack of sleep.”
[······.]
Her voice was chillingly cold.
Was profound heartbreak turning her like this?
Hwa Yeon could only watch her pitifully until late into the dawn.
* * *
Adorned in her prepared ceremonial uniform and crown, she gazed into the mirror.
The reflection still showed her poor mood.
But she forced a composed expression.
Though her longing had deepened with his absence again, this moment demanded she focus as the leader of the Moon Lineage—no, the Heaven-Earth-Moon Assembly.
The one to become assembly leader could not wallow in gloom.
-Clack!
Rising, she steeled her voice and said,
“Let’s go.”
“Yes, Assembly Leader.”
Guard Captain Hwa Yeon and the warriors assisting her inauguration followed.
Ryu Sowol’s steps toward the grand hall along the passage were exceedingly heavy.
She had awaited this day since becoming Young Leader.
Though downcast without her beloved, she didn’t believe he would break their promise so easily.
He would appear someday.
Until then, she would fulfill her duties as assembly leader.
-Thud thud!
Her expression grew subtle as she headed to the grand hall.
Pausing briefly, Guard Captain Hwa Yeon asked curiously.
“Young lady, what’s wrong?”
[······Strange.]
“Yes?”
“No matter how solemnly it’s held, this······.”
Sensing something amiss, Ryu Sowol bolted toward the grand hall, her form blurring with speed.
In that moment, Ryu Sowol’s face hardened.
The grand hall was a scene from hell.
Countless corpses piled up, the grand inauguration decorations soaked in blood.
“Th-this······.”
Guard Captain Hwa Yeon and the guards following her couldn’t hide their shock.
What had happened?
How had they not known until now?
“Assembly Leader······.”
Calling to her, they saw her staggering toward something.
There,
“Ah······ Father······.”
Moon Lineage Clan Head Ryu Gang’s severed head lay on the floor, eyes wide, surrounded by the mutilated, gruesome corpses of retainers and warriors.
Staggering forward, Ryu Sowol collapsed before her father’s severed head.
-Thud!
“Ah······.”
Choked with emotion, she couldn’t speak properly, clutching and embracing her father’s head.
They say overwhelming emotion defies control.
Clutching her father’s head, Ryu Sowol couldn’t even cry out or breathe right.
Why······. Why was Father like this?
What had transpired here?
Then,
“You’re finally here?”
A voice called out.
Looking there, a man slowly emerged beside the jade throne.
The man, bloodied sword slung over his shoulder, was none other than Heavenly Lineage’s Young Leader—no, the one to become Heavenly Lineage Clan Head, Bi Yongheon.
Her eyes, unable to breathe amid grief and rage, fixed on him unblinkingly.
Then Bi Yongheon smiled faintly and said,
“How is it? Do you like your inauguration gift?”
“You······ you!”
Calling this a gift now?
Had Bi Yongheon truly lost his mind?
A torrent of emotions surged, but with her breathing still ragged, she glared at him, gasping roughly.
Then Bi Yongheon uttered baffling words.
“See? I told you you’d get to see the greatest expression you’ve never seen. Hahaha.”
“You dare!”
In that instant, Guard Captain Hwa Yeon, unable to contain her fury, launched herself at Bi Yongheon.
“Ah······ no!”
Panicked, Ryu Sowol reached out.
But Hwa Yeon had already closed in, and,
-Slash!
Unable even to swing her sword properly, her body split in two right there.
Without a scream, her body fell in halves.
Witnessing Guard Captain Hwa Yeon’s death—who had cared for her since childhood and been her companion—right before her eyes, Ryu Sowol’s own eyes burned red.
“Guh······.”
Bi Yongheon, smirking at her, then sat upon the assembly leader’s jade throne.
Thrusting his sword into the floor, his face turned icy as he said,
-Stab!
“This is all because of you.”