So Handsome It's a Problem!
Wol Country's lord had to die.
That was Yeop Hyeon's conviction.
Wol Country had waged war alongside Ganguk, claiming countless lives from Ganguk's people. And someone had to pay the price for it.
Leaving the grand hall, Yeop Hyeon headed straight for Wol Country's treasure vault.
Sobs and wails echoed behind him.
Half a shichen later, Yeop Hyeon slipped out of the Wol Country palace.
This time, he didn't summon Black Wolf. Instead, he boarded a cloud ship from Chwiseonru. The private cabin would let him examine his spoils in peace.
For now, he couldn't touch Jungto Sinju's Changmok Academy or the Daeun Empire. They'd taken hits, sure, but nothing crippling. The Daeun Empire's power remained rock-solid.
Take it slow!
Yeop Hyeon's top priority was boosting his strength. After that, reorganizing Canglan Academy's Dao soldiers.
He was the cloud ship's sole passenger—a courtesy from Chwiseonru.
Settling into the lavish cabin, Yeop Hyeon plopped down and inventoried his haul.
Gold first: 1.4 billion taels. With his existing 200 million, that made 1.6 billion total. Then, over two million top-grade spirit stones, twelve jade-grade ones, and twenty-five manuals on techniques, weapons, and movement arts. Adding those to his collection gave him thirty-five martial arts manuals in all.
Thirty-six supreme-grade spirit artifacts this time, bringing his total to eighty-five.
And six famed-grade ones—not many, but among them, two swords. Luck was on his side.
Swords!
Yeop Hyeon brought the pair before his eyes. One had a broad blade etched with lightning patterns, its pitch-black hilt leaking bone-chilling cold.
The other was slender and long, its tip radiating a razor-sharp frost gleam.
Both were low famed-grade swords.
Absorb them?
Without hesitation, Yeop Hyeon began the process.
The swords dissolved into potent energy, surging through every corner of his body.
At Penetrating Nether Realm, he was still far from matching a Myriad Laws Realm expert. But reach Divine Fusion Realm, and he'd hold his own—maybe not win, but survive.
I must achieve Divine Fusion Realm!
He decided against absorbing Spirit Water Sword. In utility and lethality, it rivaled these blades.
Worst case, he could buy more through Chwiseonru with the gold from Wol and Cho Countries' tributes.
In the cabin, Yeop Hyeon madly devoured the swords' power. His aura grew fiercer by the minute, Spirit Water Sword trembling as it absorbed energy too.
Meanwhile, news of his conquests in Cho and Wol Countries spread like wildfire across Qingzhou.
Yeop Hyeon's fame burned like the sun in the sky.
In Ganguk, crowds flocked daily to Giun Mountain's base. Some hoped to join Canglan Academy; women just wanted a glimpse of his face.
The next day, the cloud ship arrived smoothly in Ganguk. But Yeop Hyeon stayed holed up in his cabin.
On deck, two women chatted in hushed tones.
"I saw that sword cultivator's face yesterday!"
"Kyaa! What'd he look like?"
"Total flower boy! But he's holed up in his cabin—hasn't shown his face once."
"Girl, you aren't crushing, are you? That's a Sword Lord—pick your targets wisely!"
"Sword Lord, so what? Maybe I should slip him a love potion."
"Nothing you won't say!"
"Ahem!"
A sudden cough from behind.
They whipped around, faces flushing tomato-red at the sight.
It was Yeop Hyeon.
He brushed past, descending the stairs. Pausing, he gazed skyward with a troubled frown and muttered,
"Being this handsome is such a hassle..."
With that, he leaped from the ship.
The women clutched their faces, flustered beyond words.
Descending, Yeop Hyeon made for Canglan Academy.
Absorbing the swords hadn't pushed him to Divine Fusion Realm, nor strengthened Spirit Water Sword much. Disappointing.
He realized now: post-Penetrating Nether Realm breakthrough, the swords demanded more. Especially after Spirit Water Sword hit true mid-grade—it had devoured countless famed blades. He'd thought four or five would do; reality was harsher.
To advance himself and Spirit Water Sword, he'd need ten or more famed swords.
Suddenly, Yeop Hyeon felt dirt poor.
Entering the city, he saw Imperial City in festive uproar.
Ganguk had won!
When Cho and Wol Countries invaded with Changmok Academy and Daeun Empire backing, despair gripped the people. Defeat meant slavery.
But Ganguk triumphed against the odds!
Seeing their beaming faces, Yeop Hyeon smiled unwittingly.
Protecting home and country.
He wasn't grand about it—just satisfied knowing Ganguk's soldiers and Canglan students' sacrifices saved lives.
Responsibility had defined Yeop Hyeon since childhood.
After losing his mother young, he'd shouldered caring for his sister alone.
Keeping her from starving—that was his burden.
Growing up, as Ye family's crown prince, another weight: fighting for the clan, even unto death.
They'd abandoned him, but he'd no regrets for his efforts.
Now, dean of Canglan Academy, Ganguk's state preceptor, guardian to Bai Ze, Mu Yun Qi, and others.
Everyone bears some duty from birth, growing heavier with time.
A life of constant responsibility was exhausting. Without good family or parents, slacking meant being branded trash.
Lost in these thoughts, sword intent suddenly erupted from Yeop Hyeon's body.
He jolted.
Sword intent bursting out on its own... like it has a mind?
The notion startled him.
Then another thought flashed: His was Good and Evil Sword Intent. Where good existed, so did evil.
What form did Evil Intent Sword Intent take?
Curiosity surged.
"Are you Yeop, the state preceptor?"
A voice snapped him from reverie.
Yeop Hyeon halted, turning. There stood a stunning woman holding a flower-butterfly umbrella, eyeing him suspiciously. Her figure was perfection.
Nearby passersby stared too, drawn by "Yeop state preceptor."
Straightening, Yeop Hyeon replied gravely,
"I'm not Yeop the state preceptor. He's a heaven-sent hero, majestic and bold. How could you mistake me, who doesn't reach his toe?"
"..."
With shameless poise, Yeop Hyeon turned to slip away.
But she'd closed in, unfurling a portrait against his face. It was him.
Comparing, she pressed,
"Uncannily similar?"
"..."
She peered right into his face.
"Deny it now?"
Sighing in defeat, Yeop Hyeon said,
"So, what now?"
Her eyes sparkled at his admission.
"Just checking—and it really is you!"
With that, she snapped her umbrella shut, thrusting at his brow.
Sword momentum. Sword intent. And Sword Master!
Yeop Hyeon reeled inwardly. She was a Sword Master, her umbrella a true-grade umbrella sword!
No time to think—he unleashed sword intent as a shield.
Pure Intent Sword Intent!
The intent-formed barrier blocked her strike.
Seeing it, puzzlement crossed her eyes.
"What bizarre sword intent. Never seen its like."
Her hand blurred; the umbrella bloomed open.
Boom!
Yeop Hyeon flew back a dozen zhang. But instantly, a sword shot from his hand toward her umbrella.
Thud!
She staggered back twenty zhang before halting.
Lifting her head, she gazed at him excitedly.
"Sword Lord! You truly are one!"
Yeop Hyeon asked,
"Sent by Changmok Academy?"
She blinked, then shook her head.
"I'm Geom Cho-cho of the Geom family. You must know my brother, Geom So-wang?"
Geom So-wang?
Yeop Hyeon recalled the man who'd aided him and Gong Qingcheng in Jeoguk's secret realm.
Geom Cho-cho scanned him appraisingly.
"I was en route to Jungto Sinju, but hearing you'd become Sword Lord, I detoured to see. Can't beat you now!"
Yeop Hyeon grinned.
"Your skill's no slouch either!"
She stepped closer, curious.
"How'd you become Sword Lord? Tell me?"
So direct?
Seeing his fluster, she winked.
"Pretty please!"
After a pause, Yeop Hyeon offered,
"Why not join Canglan Academy? We could discuss the sword path in depth."
Without thinking, Geom Cho-cho agreed.
"Deal!"
"..."