Chapter 149
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 149
Chapter Title: Shadow-Cleaving Swordsman Sa In-gyeol
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Shadow-Cleaving Swordsman Sa In-gyeol.
The last survivor of the now-forgotten Sa family, he had lost his entire clan in a bloody massacre thirty years ago and became a wandering soul without a home.
Then, through a miraculous stroke of fate, he obtained the peerless sword art known as Ascending Wave Five Wheels Sword.
Over a dozen years later, when Sa In-gyeol emerged from seclusion, he etched his name into the martial world with his astonishing swordsmanship. Thanks to that, at a relatively young age, he was named among the Orthodox Ten Great Swordsmen.
He had gained fame that countless martial artists envied, but Sa In-gyeol had a different goal.
The culprit who annihilated the Sa family—Mad Blood Sword Lord.
Yet while eating noodles at an inn, an unbelievable story reached Sa In-gyeol's ears.
"Did you hear the rumor?"
"What rumor?"
"About North Heaven Manor."
"North Heaven Manor?"
"You know, the one where someone killed Blood Yin Death Lord and Mad Blood Sword Lord..."
Flash!
"What did you just say?"
The passersby chatting at the inn couldn't help but jump in shock at the sudden appearance of Sa In-gyeol.
'Gasp!'
'M-Martial artist!'
The terrified passerby stammered back.
"Wh-What do you mean, great hero?"
Sa In-gyeol asked in a trembling voice.
"The Mad Blood Sword Lord... what happened to him?"
"Yes, they say he's dead."
His eyes widened as if they might tear.
"That monster is dead? Is it true?"
"Yes..."
The passerby glanced at Sa In-gyeol fearfully even as he answered.
'It's been ages since Mad Blood Sword Lord died... Judging by his appearance, he must've just come out of secluded training deep in some mountain.'
Sa In-gyeol's body shuddered.
"Who killed that bastard? Was it one of the Nine Heavens Martial Emperors?"
"No. I heard it was some expert called the 'North Heaven Dragon.'"
"North Heaven Dragon...? Who's that?"
"They say he's a young man from somewhere up north, but anyway, this North Heaven Dragon took down Blood Yin Death Lord and Mad Blood Sword Lord."
"A young man? Unbelievable! How could a young man kill that monster!"
Sa In-gyeol unwittingly unleashed his aura. The passersby, startled, bowed their heads low.
"I-It was just a rumor I heard."
"Forgive us! Spare our lives!"
Coming to his senses at their desperate pleas, Sa In-gyeol withdrew his aura.
"...Sorry."
He left the inn in a daze.
'Mad Blood Sword Lord is dead? And to some random young man?'
From Sa In-gyeol's perspective, it was truly hard to believe.
'Ten years ago, I tracked him down but got utterly crushed.'
Mad Blood Sword Lord was an expert far beyond what he could handle.
Sa In-gyeol had barely escaped with his life and spent a full ten years in bone-grinding closed-door training.
Even now, with Ascending Wave Five Wheels Sword perfected, he believed he could only win by staking his life against such a foe as Mad Blood Sword Lord.
Sa In-gyeol's eyes gleamed sharply.
"I need to confirm it myself."
Flash!
His figure vanished in an instant.
* * *
An inn in front of North Heaven Manor.
A strange man occupied a small table.
Clad head to toe in a massive leather coat, he was remarkably diminutive.
Even standing, he barely seemed to exceed five feet.
"......"
On the table sat steamed buns that appeared to be his order, cooling untouched.
At that moment, a warrior in pristine white martial robes entered the inn.
He was a one-eyed man with an eyepatch over one eye, a large sword at his waist. Embroidered on the left side of his chest were the characters 'North Heaven.'
"......"
The one-eyed man, who appeared to be in his mid-thirties, scanned the room, spotted the strange man, and smiled.
He then approached the table.
"Long time no see, brother."
The strange man's eyes flashed from within the leather coat.
"Sit."
"Yes."
The one-eyed man sat across from him.
"Haha, it's really been ages. Three years?"
The strange man corrected him.
"Three years and five months."
"As precise as ever. You're the same as always, brother."
"......"
The smiling one-eyed man was one of North Heaven Manor's captains, known by the moniker One-Eyed Blade.
"I sent the letter half in doubt, but it reached you somehow."
"Luck was on my side. But... is the letter's content true?"
At the strange man's question, One-Eyed Blade nodded.
"Not a single lie. Seeing you've come all this way, you've made up your mind?"
"...I'll see for myself and judge."
One-Eyed Blade gave a faint smile.
"You'll definitely like it."
"Hmph."
It was One-Eyed Blade, an old acquaintance, who had sent him the letter suggesting he join North Heaven Manor.
"Did you tell the manor lord?"
One-Eyed Blade looked troubled for once.
"Well... not yet. I wasn't sure when you'd arrive..."
"Excuses. You're just scared he'll reject me after I've come all this way, aren't you?"
One-Eyed Blade's pupils wavered slightly.
"N-No."
The strange man's eyes gleamed coldly.
"You're lying. If you were anyone else, I'd have cut your head off right now."
"......"
He shot up from his seat.
"Fine. I'll meet this great North Heaven Dragon myself."
"Br-Brother!"
Thump, thump.
The strange man limped toward the exit. He was lame.
Yet his movement speed was remarkably fast. Even a healthy person would struggle to keep up.
The strange man soon arrived at North Heaven Manor.
"......"
He surveyed the manor with sharp eyes.
'Not bad. Well-built.'
Thump, thump.
He slowly approached the main gate.
'...Nothing to lose by trying.'
If North Heaven Manor wasn't what he expected, he planned to turn it upside down and leave.
Upon reaching the gate, the gate guards blocked his path.
"Halt!"
"......"
"This is North Heaven Manor. State your business."
A glint appeared in the strange man's eyes.
'For a gate guard, he's decent.'
As expected of Shanxi Province's rising star.
'But he couldn't handle even one of my blades.'
He slowly opened his mouth.
"I'm here to see the manor lord."
"The manor lord...? What is your business?"
Before the strange man could reply, someone else spoke first.
"I have words for your manor lord that must be heard directly."
"...?!"
The strange man turned in surprise. Sa In-gyeol had appeared beside him at some point, eyes gleaming.
'I didn't sense his presence.'
Even if he'd been off guard, it was unexpected.
"......"
The strange man glanced at Sa In-gyeol.
'Hm?'
Feeling the sharp killing intent, Sa In-gyeol flinched and stared back.
"I got here first."
"My business came first."
Their eyes met. The atmosphere turned icy in an instant.
"......"
Their auras clashed.
Whoosh!!
Their clothes fluttered wildly. Neither yielded an inch.
"Not bad."
"You're no slouch yourself."
The gate guard couldn't hide his bewilderment.
'These guys... experts!'
It would take at least his superior, the Defense Captain, to handle them.
As their auras intensified further.
Flash!
A long sword flew between them.
"...!"
The aura within it was so sharp that Sa In-gyeol and the strange man had no choice but to step back.
The sword halted just before stabbing into the ground.
Boom!
Dust scattered in all directions from the sword wind.
The wielder of the sword was North Wind Brigade Leader.
"How dare you cause a commotion here. Do you know where you are?"
Feeling his aura, Sa In-gyeol and the strange man were startled.
'Such an expert...?'
'An incredible swordsman.'
North Wind Brigade Leader had sensed the powerful auras while patrolling inside and rushed out.
Sa In-gyeol asked.
"Are you the manor lord?"
Before North Wind Brigade Leader could respond, the strange man sneered.
"Who in their right mind would mistake that guy for North Heaven Dragon."
"What?"
North Wind Brigade Leader chuckled.
"I'm Deputy Manor Lord Han Jong-il. Who are you, and why have you come to our manor?"
Sa In-gyeol quickly said.
"This guy's a stranger."
"Is that so?"
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Sa In-gyeol."
Not only North Wind Brigade Leader but the strange man also looked surprised.
"No way, the Shadow-Cleaving Swordsman?"
At North Wind Brigade Leader's words, Sa In-gyeol nodded.
"That's what they call me in the martial world."
The strange man's eyes gleamed.
"No wonder. I thought he was decent—one of the Orthodox Ten Great Swordsmen."
"...And who are you? Your aura suggests you're no nameless fool."
At Sa In-gyeol's question, the strange man gave a sinister smile.
"Hmph, wrong. I'm just a nobody."
"A nobody?"
'No way.'
Sa In-gyeol didn't press further, but he showed no sign of believing it.
The gate guard spoke up.
"Deputy Manor Lord, both said they want to see the manor lord. The Shadow-Cleaving Swordsman claims he has words for the manor lord directly..."
"I see."
Now knowing their identities, North Wind Brigade Leader stroked his beard.
"Barging in and demanding to see the manor lord. Not very proper for the Shadow-Cleaving Swordsman."
Sa In-gyeol flinched involuntarily.
'...He's right. I was too hasty.'
The news of Mad Blood Sword Lord's death had shaken him too deeply for rational thought.
"For now, stand down. I'll check the manor lord's intentions first..."
At that moment, a transmission reached his ear.
[Deputy Manor Lord, bring both to me.]
"...!"
It was Seol Hwa-un's transmission. He nodded faintly and said.
"You two, follow me."
Sa In-gyeol and the strange man followed North Wind Brigade Leader into North Heaven Manor. Nothing else caught their eye.
Only one thought filled their minds.
'Finally, I'll meet North Heaven Dragon?'
In the center of North Heaven Manor stood a vast training ground. There, Seol Hwa-un stood tall with hands behind his back.
He had let them in not for any special reason. They were considerable experts, and harbored no particular malice.
'They're strong enough to at least hear out.'
Seol Hwa-un cupped his fists toward them.
"Pleased to meet you. I am North Heaven Manor's lord, Seol Hwa-un."
"...!"
Their eyes widened on their own.
'That young man is...'
'North Heaven Dragon!'
The two fell into a momentary daze.
'Unbelievable! Is that the aura a youth not yet thirty can emit?'
'Such restrained power... Damn, the rumors might be true.'
Seol Hwa-un spoke with a faint smile.
"Impressive experts. What brings you to seek me out?"
"......"
Sa In-gyeol and the strange man exchanged glances. The strange man shrugged as if yielding the first word.
'Yielding now?'
Sa In-gyeol didn't mind. He cupped his fists toward Seol Hwa-un.
"Pleased to meet you, Manor Lord Seol. I am Sa In-gyeol."
A glint appeared in Seol Hwa-un's eyes.
'Shadow-Cleaving Swordsman?'
Sa In-gyeol's eyes gleamed.
"I hear you killed Mad Blood Sword Lord. Is it true?"
Seol Hwa-un answered calmly.
"It is."
"...!"
Sa In-gyeol stared piercingly into Seol Hwa-un's eyes.
'No tremor at all. No lie.'
His expression shifted several times.
"I see... That monster is truly dead."
Seol Hwa-un observed Sa In-gyeol closely.
'Some connection to Mad Blood Sword Lord?'
But even Seol Hwa-un couldn't know the full story.
Lowering his head, Sa In-gyeol gave a hollow smile.
'Haha. What have I been doing all this time...'
Even from the rumors heard on the way to North Heaven Manor, deep down he'd already known Mad Blood Sword Lord was dead.
But as an archenemy where he couldn't share the same sky, he couldn't accept it easily.
Sa In-gyeol slowly raised his head and met Seol Hwa-un's gaze.
"Mad Blood Sword Lord was my mortal foe. For the past thirty years, I've honed my martial arts to kill him..."
Seol Hwa-un nodded.
"I see."
Sa In-gyeol spoke with a serious expression.
"Manor Lord, I have a request."
"What is it?"
"Spar with me."