Chapter 1
Chapter 1
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: New Life
-----------------------------------------------------------------
### Prologue
Mount Hua.
At the summit of one of the Five Mountains, the emperors of three nations had gathered.
These rulers, who had waged war for decades to determine the true sovereign of the Central Plains, were now assembled in one place because of a single man.
Whoooosh!
A chilling wind howled fiercely, and the expressions of the three emperors awaiting the man were not merely dark—they radiated outright fury.
"Why is this fellow so late?"
Zhao Emperor Jo Bi raised his voice toward Yeon Emperor Yi Jeok.
Yi Jeok replied calmly.
"The path here must be treacherous. Let us wait a little longer."
Qin Emperor Yang Gwang-hyo, seated beside Yi Jeok, closed his eyes tightly and let out a sigh.
"How are we to endure this humiliation? Haah...."
Whoooosh!
The wind grew even stronger.
How much time passed like this?
"He has arrived."
A general standing far from the pavilion called out softly.
The three emperors' gazes turned simultaneously in that direction.
A man appeared on the path leading to the summit.
It was the Martial Emperor Yi Hwan, the absolute sovereign of the martial world. As soon as he revealed himself, even the blowing wind seemed to hold its breath.
The escort captains of the three nations placed their hands on their sword hilts. Yet none dared draw their blades. Instead, they bowed their heads slightly, overwhelmed by Yi Hwan's presence.
Yi Hwan walked slowly toward the pavilion where the three emperors sat. Though approaching emperors, no one dared demand he unbuckle his sword.
Three figures followed behind Yi Hwan. Each wielded a sword, a great blade, and a whip, halting before the escorts.
They were the Three Kings, known as Yi Hwan's shadows. As they blocked the way, the escorts could scarcely breathe.
Heh.
"Relax."
The Sword King's smiling words terrified the escorts more than a blade piercing their throats.
Yi Hwan ascended to the pavilion and spoke calmly.
"The road here was rough, so I am a bit late."
Arrogant.
Who in the world could display such attitude before emperors?
What was even more astonishing was the three emperors' reactions. They merely gestured for him to sit as if it were the most natural thing, showing not a hint of displeasure.
Even Jo Bi, who had been furious moments before, did the same.
Yi Hwan slowly scanned the three emperors.
"Have you made your decision?"
Unexpectedly, Jo Bi spoke first.
"Our Zhao Kingdom accepts your request."
With that, he produced a jade seal from his bosom.
Yang Gwang-hyo wore a look of disbelief. Wasn't this the same Jo Bi who had been raging just now?
Yi Hwan's gaze turned to Yang Gwang-hyo.
"Our Qin Kingdom also accepts your request."
Yang Gwang-hyo too drew out his jade seal.
Finally, it was Yi Jeok's turn.
Unlike the other two, he stared straight at Yi Hwan and asked,
"With what will you prove it to us?"
"Do I seem like I've come to prove it?"
"......!"
"I am here only to confirm whether the three of you accept my request. If you do, peace is assured. If not...."
Yi Hwan trailed off deliberately. There was no need to spell out the rest.
His audacity caused Yi Jeok and the other two emperors' faces to twitch subtly. But their firmly pressed lips did not part.
Yi Hwan stared straight at Yi Jeok. Yi Jeok did not avert his gaze.
But the moment did not last long.
Thud!
Yi Jeok took out his jade seal and placed it on the table.
"......We accept your request."
Moments later, the three emperors stamped their seals on four sheets of paper. Each then tucked one into their bosom.
Yi Hwan picked up his copy.
The content written on the paper was brief. But it was shocking.
In summary, the three nations would recognize the martial world as extraterritorial and refrain from any interference, while the martial world would not meddle in the three nations' affairs.
Non-Aggression between Court and Martial World.
For the imperial houses that had always viewed martial sects merely as tools of war, this was an unprecedented event.
Yi Hwan flicked the paper in his hand lightly. Astonishingly, it pierced the fierce wind and flew precisely to one of the Three Kings.
"I thank you on behalf of all the martial world for your decision. And I hope this oath endures for generations to come. Farewell."
Yi Hwan departed.
The three emperors trembled with humiliation for a long while.
Mount Hua Banquet.
In later years, the people of the world called that day by this name. It was the martial world's greatest triumph, and for the three nations, an indelible day of shame.
### Chapter 1 - New Life
The southernmost frontline of Yeon Kingdom.
Amid endless rows of tents in the military camp, a single grand hall stood isolated a short distance away.
In its courtyard sat a burly general with arms crossed.
With his massive build, angular face, and thick beard, he exuded raw strength. Beside him, a young warrior in his twenties kept glancing nervously at the tightly shut door.
The young warrior cautiously spoke.
"The physician said his consciousness has fully returned, so why is he still lying down?"
"He awoke after ten days. It will take time before he can move about."
"If movement is difficult, he should have at least summoned the deputy general. He doesn't even respond to greetings...."
"Enough."
The burly general closed his eyes.
At that moment, two men entered the courtyard. Clad in icy blue robes with a blade-sharp aura, and wearing blood-red armor, they were young generals.
The young warrior poked the burly general and bowed to the newcomers.
"Please, come in."
The burly general opened his eyes. Only after staring at the two generals in turn did he slowly rise.
A sneer curled one general's lips.
"You're awake?"
"Yes. He regained consciousness yesterday."
"Impressive. Surviving in that state. His life force is as tough as iron wire, as always."
Twitch.
The burly general's eyebrow wriggled like a caterpillar.
"Mind your words."
"Ah, ah, sorry. It's a habit. Even so, as an imperial prince, I was a bit harsh, huh? Sorry."
His words said one thing, but the sneer on his lips deepened.
The other general spoke.
"Can we see him?"
"It would be difficult right now."
"Have you seen him?"
"I haven't seen him yet either."
The general narrowed his brows slightly at the door, then turned away.
"Let's go."
"Shouldn't we at least pay respects now that he's awake?"
"Even the deputy general hasn't seen him. We'll do it later."
The burly general watched impassively as the two generals departed through the main gate.
But deep in his sunken pupils burned a fierce heat.
'That bastard knows the Great Prince can hear him....'
Then—
Creak.
The sound of the door opening made the burly general whip around like lightning.
A man peeked his head through the open door slit.
His pale complexion and striking features could melt a woman's heart.
"Want to see me?"
* * *
Yi Hwan gazed at the burly general.
The man's name was Song Hoe, reminiscent of Wei's fierce general Jeon Wi from ancient times.
A disciple of the prestigious orthodox Mount Hua Sect, he was the only subordinate the original owner of this body truly trusted.
"Water."
"Please wait a moment."
Yi Hwan watched Song Hoe's retreating back as he fetched water, his gaze steadying.
'Destruction...?'
One day prior, Yi Hwan had awakened from eternal slumber.
He had clearly lived out his natural lifespan and closed his eyes, yet he opened them again in a youthful body. One thing was certain: he had gained a new life in a completely different era, in a completely different body.
Anyone thrust into such a situation would be disoriented, and Yi Hwan was no exception.
After disorientation came shock.
The fall of Daye Fortress, which had been everything to him.
Through this body's memories, he learned of the destruction of the place hailed as the greatest power of past and present, the one that had dominated the world alongside him.
A day of chaos and shock.
He didn't even know why or by whom it had been destroyed.
'What the hell did they do to let it come to this...?'
And one more thing.
The pact he had nearly coerced from the three nations' emperors had come to naught.
The martial sects once united under Daye Fortress had become the three nations' hunting dogs once more in this era, reduced to weapons that killed and were killed.
His greatest achievement had vanished into bubbles.
"Here."
Yi Hwan quenched his thirst with the cold water Song Hoe offered.
Thud!
"Do you know why Daye Fortress fell?"
"......Pardon?"
Song Hoe looked baffled.
Awakening after ten days, and his first question was about Daye Fortress's fall. Yi Hwan had never shown interest in martial history, making it all the more puzzling.
"I'm asking."
"I don't know either...."
"You're from Mount Hua Sect and you don't know?"
"Our generation only knows it was once a power that dominated the world. Even our sect elders said the same."
"Martial sects must have records of martial history somewhere."
"Not just my sect— no faction has any books recording Daye Fortress, as far as I know."
"Fools."
"......"
Song Hoe suddenly felt something off.
The man before him seemed like a completely different person.
'What is that ferocious gaze and that razor-sharp aura?'
Previously, Yi Hwan had been endlessly gentle and warm—overly so, earning him a reputation for weakness.
Yi Hwan asked again.
"What about the imperial palace? Even if no records remain in the martial world, the palace might have them."
"Rumors say the Imperial Palace Treasury holds all historical texts.... But I'm not sure about records on Daye Fortress."
Imperial Palace Treasury.
The imperial treasure vault where rare treasures discovered through long history had accumulated across generations.
It was said to house all sorts of secret manuals, divine weapons, precious medical texts, elixirs, and finally, histories recording the world's every event.
If nowhere else, there might be historical texts on Daye Fortress in the Imperial Palace Treasury.
'Tch. Even the crown prince isn't allowed in there....'
Per this body's memories, only the emperor could enter the Imperial Palace Treasury.
It was a forbidden zone even for the crown prince, so for Yi Hwan—a bastard imperial prince—entry was out of the question.
'I'll regain my strength first and figure out a way.'
Thud!
Yi Hwan drained the remaining water and changed the subject.
"When the kid got stabbed...."
"Who... do you mean?"
Yi Hwan caught himself and rephrased.
"When I got stabbed, did you see it?"
"Yes. Two enemies ambushed. My comrades and I rushed in desperately... I'm sorry. We should have guarded the perimeter properly...."
"I'm not blaming you. Just answer my question properly."
"Yes, sir."
"When the enemy attacked me, didn't a blood-red haze rise up?"
"Ah, yes. A haze like writhing live snakes rose, and several strands wrapped around Your Highness's body. Then you collapsed, bleeding."
'As I thought.'
Yi Hwan's gaze darkened.
This was the third thing that had troubled him the previous day.
'A technique with blood-red haze... That's definitely the Sword King's Soul Separation Technique. Far inferior to his, barely a fingernail's worth of power, but unmistakably Soul Separation Technique.'
Soul Separation Technique was the signature martial art of the Sword King, one of the Three Kings called Yi Hwan's shadow.
Remembering the utterly loyal Sword King weighed heavy on his heart for a moment.
'When I left the world, the Three Kings were still hale.'
Whether Daye Fortress fell after the Three Kings' deaths, or they met their end with its fall, this body's memories held no answer.
But one thing was clear: someone from Zhao Kingdom using the Sword King's Soul Separation Technique had tried to kill him.
'There might be his descendant in Zhao Kingdom. No, no one could steal his arts, so it must be a descendant. I'll find that bastard first.'
The Sword King's descendant might know something about Daye Fortress's fall.
As Yi Hwan organized his thoughts, the young warrior's voice drifted in from outside.
"Great Prince, the physician is here."
Yi Hwan said to Song Hoe,
"Tell him to leave, and you go too. I'll rest for the day—no one enters."
"Deputy generals from General Hwang's camp visited. General Hwang himself might come this evening."
"Should I watch out for the general?"
"......"
"If he comes, send him away."
* * *
Crown Prince's Palace in Yeon Kingdom's capital.
Around late twenties?
In snow-white robes, with sword-straight brows and obsidian eyes beneath them, stood a strikingly impressive figure.
Crown Prince Yi So.
"The kid's awake?"
"Yes. He regained consciousness yesterday."
"Condition?"
"Fortunately, no threat to his life, but the physician says to observe for a few more days."
"Hmm...."
Yi So's eyes gleamed with an inscrutable light.
"Enough. Dismissed."
"Yes."
Yi So walked to the window and flung it open.
Beyond stretched the majestic palace complex. His gaze fixed on the piercingly blue sky.
'They said the injury was severe, yet he pulled through admirably.'
Then a deep voice came from outside the door.
"Your Highness, this subordinate reports."
"Enter."
A general entered, exuding a tiger-like ferocity. He bowed to Yi So and spoke.
"What is it?"
"Hebei Paeng Family has joined Second Prince's command."
"What?"
Yi So's gaze sharpened, transforming his entire presence.
"Her Majesty the Empress seems to have moved."
Yi So's eyes grew heavy.
Hebei Paeng Family joining Second Prince wasn't just one sect's allegiance.
Left General Paeng Mu-wi.
It meant the Left General would follow Second Prince as well.
"Paeng Family warriors are heading to Southern Legion with the Left General."
"They move fast."
Yi So's gaze sank heavier.
"Why send the Left General to Southern Legion at this point?"
"I inquired around—it's to counter Zhao Kingdom's Black Tiger Squad. But that's just pretext. Rumors say they'll summon General Hwang Ho to the capital soon and appoint Left General as Southern Legion Commander instead."
"From the General Staff?"
"Yes."
Yi So bit his lip and fell silent briefly. But not for long.
"Find out what deal Second Prince struck with Paeng Family. Report immediately if anything illegal surfaces."
"Understood."
"And send medicine to Southern Legion. Have the royal physician prepare something excellent for recovery."
"Great Prince has awakened?"
"Yes. So it seems."
"Understood. I'll handle it right away."
As the general left, Yi So gazed out the window again.
The once-clear sky was darkening.
'Darkness gathers where you are. But darkness can never overcome light. Endure. Survive. Rack up merits and return as someone no one can ignore. Then I will stand with you.'
* * *
Yi Hwan closed his eyes and placed both hands over his dantian.
'Even a discarded prince was raised on fine food from youth, it seems.'
Hoo!
Hot breath escaped his lips, carrying the body's stagnant qi.
'Yet his cultivation is woefully insufficient to accept my full power. First, I must use the heart method to gather the dispersed power wandering my body into one.'
Yi Hwan began his signature heart method.
His internal art had propelled him to absolute rule over the martial world, possessing miraculous effects for building inner power.
After about half a shichen, Yi Hwan opened his eyes and exhaled deeply.
"Hoo!"
Flash!
His eyes gleamed sharply, different from before. But soon they returned to normal.
'This should be enough to survive anywhere in the world.'
The scattered power was considerable.
Of course, paltry compared to his previous life's might, but he wouldn't collapse from petty ambushes like before.
Yi Hwan flopped onto the bed.
Thoughts soon flooded in.
'Destruction.... What the hell did those guys do to let it reach this state?'
His loyal subordinates came to mind.
Friends and family, thanks to them he had forged the immortal myth of martial unification.
He believed they could lead Daye Fortress after his death. Yet destruction?
Throb!
Emotions surged, head pounding; Yi Hwan inhaled deeply to calm himself, then called Song Hoe.
"Come in."
Song Hoe entered.
Yi Hwan asked abruptly,
"Ever heard of the Three Kings?"
"The Three Kings of Daye Fortress?"
"Yes."
"Why the Three Kings...?"
"Any descendants active today?"
"No descendants of the Three Kings have appeared in two hundred years, as far as I know."
"You're sure?"
"Yes. Certain."
Yi Hwan furrowed his brows.
What had happened for everything connected to him to vanish so completely?
'Tch. A prince with nothing to his name. If there was anything, it might have helped track the Soul Separation Technique user.'
The Fourth Prince, this body's owner, commanded no forces. No powerful families or maternal relatives backed him—they were mere dreams.
He led the Dragon-Tiger Army, but as no private troops, it hardly counted as a faction.
Suddenly, Yi Hwan recalled someone and frowned.
'That bookish, rigid fellow created something bizarre.'
For centuries, Zhao, Qin, and Yeon Kingdoms had warred in a three-way stalemate, barely maintaining balance.
To sustain armies, constant conscription was needed.
Yeon Kingdom's founding emperor created a law.
Illegitimate imperial and noble sons, without special reason, must all serve at the foremost frontlines to set an example for the people.
That was why Yi Hwan was at the battlefield now. Legally, even legitimate heirs could be sent forward, but in the power game, they rarely were.
And that founding emperor was Yi Jeok, who two hundred years ago had suffered humiliation from Yi Hwan at Mount Hua.
Back then, freshly founded unlike the other two, Yi Jeok's momentum pierced the heavens—but before Yi Hwan, he was but a rusted sword.
Heh.
'So I'm that man's descendant now?'
"Why are you laughing?"
Thud!
"I need rest. Leave."
"Sleep well."