The First Step Back
The flash that had blazed before his eyes began to move.
It rose high, shining brilliantly, then slowly drifted downward in a graceful arc, as elegant as a master painter sweeping ink across silk to draw an orchid.
Jang Muhwi turned his head, following the light.
As he did, he froze for a moment before quickly reaching up to touch his own neck with wide, dazed eyes.
His eyes widened to their limit.
Both of his hands were perfectly intact!
The shock lasted only a second. Jang Muhwi swiftly scanned his surroundings.
Whoosh!
Fireworks shooting into the night sky!
The true identity of that flash was nothing more than a firework.
And the countless lanterns decorating the streets looked strangely familiar.
This was unmistakably the entrance to Bulkwangsa Temple, the famous landmark of Qinghai.
The village and scenic spot that had been burned to ashes during the Demonic Cult’s invasion were still standing here, perfectly intact?
Jang Muhwi steadied his breathing and walked toward a nearby well.
Despite his burning thirst, he first leaned over the well to check his reflection.
Bathed in the clear moonlight, a strangely familiar face stared back at him from the water’s surface.
Five years? Or ten?
It was definitely his face from the past.
Jang Muhwi looked around.
Along the path leading to Bulkwangsa Temple in the distance, rows of lanterns stretched in a neat line.
People bustled about, and cheerful music rang through the air.
An old memory flashed through Jang Muhwi’s mind.
Today was the day he turned eighteen—the day his father had bestowed a sword upon him.
Could this all be a dream?
Jang Muhwi examined his hands once more.
It was often said that the calluses on a warrior’s hands were like the growth rings of a tree.
The skin on the palm would tear from gripping a sword, then harden again, layer upon layer, until the day they died.
But these hands were far too soft to belong to a warrior.
The youth he felt in his palms was unmistakably from ten years ago.
Then… was the brutal war against the Demonic Cult that remained burned into his memory nothing but a dream?
Jang Muhwi clenched his fists tightly.
It couldn’t possibly be a dream.
The image of the Heavenly Demon’s sword was still vivid in his mind.
He didn’t know why, but just like a salmon swimming upstream, he had clearly turned back the river of time.
Jang Muhwi slowly made his way toward the marketplace.
There was no need to overthink it. He would know once he confirmed things for himself.
He remembered clearly what was going to happen today.
If he had truly returned to the past, then both crisis and opportunity would arrive here tonight.
Avoiding the crisis and seizing the opportunity depended entirely on his own ability.
A faint smile unknowingly spread across Jang Muhwi’s lips.
At that moment, someone came running toward him in a panic.
“Y-Young Master!”
“You’re…”
Jang Muhwi narrowed his eyes.
The person standing before him was none other than his servant, Cheolwoo.
The name had been given because his body was as tough as iron and no one could stand against him once he bared his teeth.
Yet despite the name, he had died to a blind blade in the previous timeline.
He was seventeen now.
He had been both Jang Muhwi’s bodyguard and something like a younger brother.
Cheolwoo continued with a face that looked ready to cry.
“How could you disappear like that while I stepped away for just a moment?”
“Do you not trust me?”
“It’s not that, but…”
Cheolwoo trailed off. Jang Muhwi knew exactly what he meant.
Pretending not to notice, Jang Muhwi said, “Then let’s go.”
“Huh?”
Cheolwoo tilted his head in confusion, but Jang Muhwi quietly turned his gaze back to the fireworks still blooming in the sky.
Why did those graceful curves seem to overlap with the Heavenly Demon’s sword path?
Jang Muhwi clenched his fist even tighter.
This time, he would not walk the same path as in his previous life.
He would surpass the Heavenly Demon’s sword and gain the strength to protect the Central Plains from the Demonic Cult.
There were still seven years left until the war with the Demonic Cult.
Of course, reaching the realm of an absolute master through normal means was impossible.
But if he claimed every Giyan scattered across the martial world and made them his own, it wouldn’t be impossible.
And today, he would obtain the very first of those opportunities.
Jang Muhwi took a slow step forward.
It was his first step for himself—and also his first step for the martial world.
His steps toward the place where the Giyan lay hidden were lighter than they had ever been.
Jang Muhwi stopped in front of the largest tavern in Changguang County.
Qinghua Tavern, which never extinguished its lights for all twelve double-hours of the day, was one of the region’s famous landmarks.
Especially during the Lantern Festival like this, merchants and martial artists alike gathered here from all around.
This was Jang Muhwi’s destination.
As he was about to enter the tavern, Cheolwoo grabbed his sleeve.
“I’m sorry, but I’ll stay out here.”
“Will you be alright?”
“Yes. I’m fine. I’d rather get some fresh air out here than breathe the stale air inside. Young Master.”
“Then do as you please.”
After speaking, Jang Muhwi turned away.
Just as he was about to step inside the tavern, he muttered under his breath.
“I’m sorry.”
But Cheolwoo did not hear those words.
Once inside, Jang Muhwi climbed the stairs as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Thud. Thud.
The waiter who had been about to guide him paused, startled by how naturally Jang Muhwi moved, and simply turned away.
Jang Muhwi headed straight up to the third floor as if it were his own room.
There, the young rising stars of Qinghai had gathered in small groups, chatting and exchanging drinks.
Jang Muhwi quietly took a seat by the window.
He sat with his arms crossed, gazing outside, when a commotion arose behind him.
When he turned his head, he saw a man slowly approaching while dramatically fanning open a folding fan.
Even at a glance, the man exuded the aura of a noble young master.
The rising talents gathered on the third floor flocked to greet him.
Once he sat down, conversation swirled around him.
“I heard about the contract between the Wi Clan and the Heavenly Commerce Union. If you need any help, please let us know, Young Master Wi.”
“Of course.”
Even after being called Young Master Wi, the man did not refute the flattering words. He simply nodded with a gentle smile.
Every rising talent on the third floor looked at him with eyes full of envy.
Jang Muhwi knew him well.
No—he was someone Jang Muhwi could never forget even if he tried.
His name was Wi Gunak, the Pure Sword.
As the third son of the Wi Clan—one of the most influential families in Qinghai—he was the most talented among all the young rising stars of the region.
Thanks to that, the Wi Clan had raised him with the utmost care.
It was common knowledge that he had undergone the cleansing of marrow and renewal of tendons, and that he consumed spiritual medicines as if they were rice.
But what truly mattered was Wi Gunak’s true face.
That was something only Jang Muhwi knew—his future.
With his solid foundation and inner energy built upon spiritual herbs, he would eventually be put in charge of one of the Murim Alliance’s military units.
Yet at the very beginning of the Orthodox-Demonic War, when facing the Demonic Cult’s vanguard, he would turn tail and flee.
And he would abandon his own subordinates in the process.
Because of that, their formation would collapse and the battle situation would turn dire.
All of that would happen in just seven years.
The reason he gave for running away was some grandiose nonsense about planning for the future.
Was that something a man who had devoured every spiritual medicine available and monopolized every Giyan he could find had any right to say?
For a brief moment, flames ignited in Jang Muhwi’s eyes.
But they quickly changed into the eyes of a predator staring at its prey.
Though he was revered as the Pure Sword, today Wi Gunak would become Jang Muhwi’s prey.
If a Giyan was destined to fall into the hands of a coward who would show his back to the enemy, it would be better if it didn’t exist at all.
The top priority was for Jang Muhwi to claim it himself!
In truth, today was a special day.
When the disciples of Qinghai’s martial families or sects turned eighteen, they gathered here to have their personal swords forged.
The reason they came was because Qinghai’s greatest forge was located here.
They had come to request a sword from the master blacksmith known as Qinghai’s renowned artisan.
The problem was that this master blacksmith only forged a single sword per year.
Everyone had no choice but to engage in a fierce battle of wits.
Since no one knew the exact criteria the master used to choose, they gathered at Qinghua Tavern to exchange information.
Of course, Jang Muhwi knew everything.
As Jang Muhwi was lost in thought, the waiter approached.
“What can I get for you?”
“Just bring me a cup of tea for now.”
“We have many customers right now, so it would be better if you ordered in advance…”
“It’s fine. Just bring the tea first. And keep the change.”
With those words, Jang Muhwi handed over a silver coin.
The waiter’s eyes widened at the unexpected tip.
Jang Muhwi casually turned his head to look at the stairs.
How much time had passed?
Hurried footsteps echoed from the staircase.
It was the same waiter who had taken his order earlier. The place he ran to was none other than where Wi Gunak sat.
“What did you just say?”
Wi Gunak roared in anger and shot to his feet.
Seeing this, Jang Muhwi also stood up.
The waiter led Wi Gunak down to the front courtyard of the tavern.
There, two men were glaring at each other with fierce, menacing expressions.
Wi Gunak walked over to one of them.
“What happened here?”
“T-That bastard insulted the Wi Clan!”
The man pointed to the other side.
Watching the scene, Jang Muhwi nodded.
Everything was unfolding exactly as he remembered.
On the side the man pointed to, Jang Muhwi’s servant Cheolwoo stood fuming, nostrils flaring.
It was common for servants of different families to get into arguments.
Wi Gunak looked around with a benevolent expression.
The courtyard was already packed with young masters from martial families who had become spectators.
Wi Gunak lightly cupped his fist toward them and continued.
“My fellow martial brothers, I apologize, but I must get to the bottom of this matter. Though it may be a trivial dispute between mere servants, the Wi Clan has been insulted. Therefore, I intend to hold the master of this servant accountable.”
“Young Master Wi is right.”
When someone stepped forward to support Wi Gunak, the rest of the martial artists nodded in agreement.
Watching the spectacle, Jang Muhwi slowly stepped forward.
Up to this point, it was identical to his previous life’s memories. But from now on, he would paint a completely different picture.
The picture that Jang Muhwi desired!
Standing in front of Cheolwoo, Jang Muhwi looked at Wi Gunak.
“I am the one responsible for this friend. So, what exactly does the young master want?”