The Aftermath
The battlefield was swiftly cleared. Once the Jeokryongdae—one of the Ju Family's main forces—joined the fray, the tide had already turned decisively in our favor.
Especially their leader, Ju Yu-ran. She was a battle-hungry maniac who thrived on combat. By raw skill alone, she could have easily served as vice-commander of either the Seungryongdae or the Myeolryongdae. Yet she had deliberately chosen the Jeokryongdae because it offered far more frequent battles.
How is it that the commander sees more action than her own subordinates…
I watched her from afar as she licked her lips in disappointment after slaughtering two Qing Cultivators and wiping out twenty members of the Black and Red Water Units. A sigh escaped me.
“Oh? Young Master?”
Spotting me, she broke into a bright smile and bounded over in a single leap.
“What kind of demonic cultists were these?”
The way she said it made it sound more like “What a windfall!” Was that just my imagination?
“There are documents inside that they left behind. Recover them and report to the Family Head.”
“Eh? That’s something the lower ranks can handle… Where did these guys even come from?”
Ju Yu-ran clung to me persistently. Her eyes sparkled with unmistakable excitement, clearly hoping there was more to uncover.
“Come on, tell me! You said you’d explain!”
“Enough. We’ll talk at home. I’m dead tired.”
I finally snapped at her.
“Tch.”
Pouting, she turned away in a huff.
With that nuisance dealt with, I headed straight toward the Ju Family estate. The Jeokryongdae would handle the rest of the cleanup, and I felt lighter knowing a significant burden had been lifted.
I kept my promise.
The promise I had made to my father—that I would prove myself within ten days—had been fulfilled. It was a relief.
Yet instead of the rest I craved, I was summoned to Geomhonjeon the moment I arrived at the estate. News that the entire Jeokryongdae had mobilized, and that even their commander had moved, had prompted my father to call for me urgently.
A cold silence filled the hall.
“……”
Ju Tae-sung, one of the Ten Sovereigns and my father, stared at me with icy eyes.
“The stench of blood clings to you.”
“Yes. There was an incident.”
“Does it concern what you mentioned before?”
“Yes.”
With nothing to hide, my answers came easily. In the past I would have avoided his gaze, but now my posture was unyielding.
“Explain.”
“Someone tried to poison Mother.”
“……What?”
His expression hardened instantly. A wave of killing intent burst forth, and I hurriedly raised my inner energy to shield myself. Even so, this was the killing intent of the Sword Sovereign.
“Kuh!”
My insides twisted. I dropped to my knees and vomited blood.
“Ah, this won’t do. My apologies.”
Only then noticing my condition, Father quickly withdrew his aura and approached. He took my wrist and gently channeled his energy into me.
“Huu…”
“So. Someone dared to poison the Ju Family’s matriarch? Who was it? Did you capture them?”
Hm?
Something felt off. This was not the cold, distant father I knew. His composure had cracked; his pupils trembled without focus.
His uncharacteristic reaction left me strangely unsettled.
“I captured and killed him. The Jeokryongdae is bringing back documents. You’ll understand once you see them.”
“Hah. How ridiculous this has become.”
Grind!
The sound of his teeth grinding echoed through the hall. He was furious—furious that, as head of the family, he had failed to protect his wife, and that his young son had resolved the matter alone without even informing him.
“Is this connected to what happened at your maternal family?”
“Yes.”
I wanted to explain in detail, but I lacked the strength. I had forged the Nine Flame Soul-Controlling Incense, gone without sleep, and immediately hunted down the Blood Hand Poison Emperor.
“We’ll speak of this later. Go and rest.”
“……”
Reading my expression, Father granted me leave to return to my quarters.
As I turned to go, his voice followed.
“Woo-jin. You did well.”
“……”
It was softer than usual. I glanced back, bowed slightly, and left Geomhonjeon.
“Huaa.”
I hurried toward my residence. Washing could wait. All I wanted was sleep.
* * *
The Ju Family burned. Servants screamed as they died. Demonic Cultists unleashed their demonic voices at the Family Head, who could not withstand them. Blood soaked the ground; the sky darkened. I fled in tears.
Yes—I was the cripple who survived on everyone else’s blood.
Father, my sister, Muyoung, my uncles—they all stood against the Demonic Cultists. Even Ju Yu-ran, the Mad Dragon whose rampage had once been legendary, was gone.
When I came to my senses, I stood atop Okhwa Mountain. The rare and beautiful miryeocho grew here in small quantities. Mother had loved this place dearly.
I buried my bloodstained hands in the soil and laughed and wept like a madman. Below, the estate was engulfed in flames. Not a single survivor remained—only this pathetic cripple, left to weep alone.
What had I been thinking? I could not remember. Only the knowledge that I could never return drove me to pluck a few young leaves of miryeocho and tuck them into my robes. I had always missed the faint fragrance that once lingered in Geomhonjeon.
The Demonic Cult’s tide swept across the world in an instant. Starting with the Ju Family, the Five Great Families and Nine Great Sects fell one after another. No news of victory ever came.
After hiding on Okhwa Mountain for nearly a year, I finally descended. No one had tended to the estate; it remained in ruins. The servants’ corpses had rotted until only bones remained. I buried them in the rear garden, covering them with soil I dug by hand.
I had not understood their worth while they lived. Only after they were gone did I realize it. My tears no longer flowed. All that remained was the clear knowledge of what I had to do.
A year had been enough to suppress my fear of the Cheonma. I resolved to take my revenge.
Cheonma.
I would kill him.
“Cheonma!”
I would snap his neck and offer it at the memorial tablets of my family!
* * *
“Cheonma!”
Light returned to my vision. I must have had a terrible dream.
“Y-Young Master? A-Are you all right?”
An unfamiliar voice reached me. My heart sank. Could everything have been a dream…?
“Young Master?”
No. Thankfully, I was in my own room. I must have collapsed without even changing clothes.
“You… Who are you?”
I stared at the young girl kneeling before me, trembling violently. Her pupils quivered; her frail shoulders shook as though struck by an earthquake.
“I-I am… This time…”
“Speak clearly. Don’t stammer.”
“Y-Yes! Hoo…”
After a deep breath, she spoke in a calmer tone.
“My name is Dan-a. When I was born, my mother dreamed of a divine spirit holding a red jade…”
My frown deepened.
“So they named me Dan-a.”
“Ah, I see. Nice to meet you.”
I nodded and studied her again.
What’s this?
Father must have assigned her as a new servant, yet I had no memory of meeting this child. Well, that made sense. At this point in time, I had spent more days in brothels than at the estate.
“How old are you?”
“I’m ten, Young Master.”
“Ten? You’re younger than I expected.”
Hm? Or not?
After all, I myself was only fifteen now. Roughly the same age.
Creak.
The door opened and another woman entered.
“Oh? Young Master, you’re awake. She didn’t wake you with her noise, did she?”
The woman shot Dan-a a sharp look. Dan-a quickly shook her head.
Dan-hee. Ah…
I recognized her at once. Around this time I had beaten a servant half to death; the servant had fled in a pitiful state. Father later found the servant and compensated them with a house and a large sum of money. Dan-hee had been assigned to me afterward.
So Dan-a is her younger sister. First time seeing her.
The two looked so alike that anyone could tell they were sisters at a glance.
“By the way, Young Master, if you’re up, you should go to the rear garden right away. The Matriarch is looking for you.”
“Me? When?”
“Hmm, about two hours ago?”
I tilted my head and opened the window.
Damn it.
The sun was already high overhead. My body must have been exhausted; I had slept without realizing how much time had passed.
Still, it feels good to have slept so deeply for once.
My mind was remarkably clear, my body light. This was the perfect time to train…
Unfortunately, Mother had summoned me. Training would have to wait.
I rose and headed straight for the rear garden.
* * *
Rear garden, annex. Yu Ha-rin’s residence.
“I see… I had no idea…”
Mother’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. I had given her a condensed version of events—only the most important points, so as not to worry her too much given her frail health.
“Still, it was far too dangerous. You should have told your father immediately if something like that happened.”
“He wouldn’t have believed me.”
Mother smiled and shook her head.
“Do you know how worried he was? He was in an uproar, wondering whether he should assign you more guards.”
“Father? That can’t be right.”
I shook my head firmly. I knew he cherished Mother deeply. But me? Even if he felt concern, he was not the sort of man to show it through gentle actions.
“It would have been better if you had never been born.”
Those words from my childhood remained vivid even now, despite the passage of time and my return to the past. I bore no hatred toward him, yet the wound had never healed.
“Father must find it difficult to deal with me. He said such harsh things to me so many times when I was young…”
Mother’s expression stiffened visibly. She bit her lower lip, holding back tears.
“I’m sorry… This mother of yours was ill… Your father didn’t truly mean it, but…”
“Ah.”
Only then did I realize my mistake. I should not have said that. Mother would only blame herself again.
“No, it was my slip of the tongue. I don’t hold any resentment now.”
I quickly tried to soothe her. She forced an awkward smile and wiped her eyes.
I stood up at once. Staying longer would only upset her further.
I’m still not used to this sort of thing.
I clearly needed more practice—how to speak gently, for instance…
“I’ll be going now.”
I left her residence. Damn it. This is hard. Too hard. That had not been my intention, yet I had only burdened her again.
“Haa…”
A sigh slipped out.
* * *
“You heard everything, didn’t you?”
“……”
Yu Ha-rin spoke softly while staring at a corner of the room. From the shadows, someone stepped forward hesitantly—Ju Tae-sung, the Family Head.
“Ahem.”
He cleared his throat repeatedly, avoiding his wife’s reproachful gaze.
“What on earth did you say to that child…?”
“It was merely resentment. I knew it was wrong, yet… I must not have been in my right mind either. I truly… have nothing to say.”
The Sword Sovereign of the world became as meek as a lamb before his wife, Yu Ha-rin.