Uninvited Guest
I pursued the suspicious presence.
It was a flow similar to the death qi of the deceased—cold, dry, and an ominous current that pierced deep into the bones.
At the very end of the rear garden, where the wall met the boundary, stood a solitary, long-abandoned storehouse. It looked neglected, unused for years. The presence I had sensed leaked from within.
I approached the storehouse with caution. The door handle was secured by a sturdy latch, but that hardly mattered.
Crack!
I shattered the latch in one blow and stepped inside.
Darkness. Yet something far denser than the darkness itself poured out—death qi. The eerie flow, akin to the energy of the dead, shook my own qi. And in the midst of it—
“So you came.”
The man’s voice was rough and chilling, like scraping a cracked stone.
“……”
I quickly circulated my qi, drawing up my inner energy.
“No need to be so tense. I came looking for you because I have something to say.”
“For me? Then you should have sought me at the Ju family. Why wait here?”
“Because I knew you would come to this place.”
As he spoke, the man slowly approached me.
“Seems there’s someone else besides you.”
“Oh? You sensed that too?”
The man nodded.
“Indeed. Just in case. But I’ll finish my talk with you here and leave cleanly. That’s all.”
“Speak.”
I kept my guard up as I spoke.
“You’re looking for the Heavenly Demon, aren’t you?”
“……?”
My expression twisted at those words. What? Why would the Heavenly Demon’s name come from this man?
“I am the same. How about it? Shall we join hands?”
“Join hands? Who are you?”
“I can’t tell you that yet. Not to someone who might or might not join me.”
The moment his words ended, a sinister qi spread thickly around us. Though I felt no killing intent or hostility, the qi itself was deeply unpleasant.
“I’ll tell you just one thing. I have no interest in the Ju family. Only the Heavenly Demon. I want to capture him. Just his head is enough. Truly.”
“……”
His voice, when speaking of the Heavenly Demon, was filled with killing intent. He seemed consumed by hatred for the Heavenly Demon. Yet it felt ominous.
Teaming up with someone whose identity I didn’t know held no appeal. Moreover, my mind was in turmoil. Capture the Heavenly Demon? Who in the world is this man?
The man’s identity. I had thought the Demonic Cult and the Heavenly Demon were the greatest enemies. Without them, the martial world itself would be at peace. But…
“Dangerous.”
The man before me radiated an extremely dangerous qi.
“As expected, it won’t work.”
I shook my head.
“Hmm. Why? Think it over once more. This is a golden opportunity that won’t come again.”
“You don’t seem quite sane either.”
“Kuk kuk kuk. I’ve heard that a lot. So, is that a refusal?”
“Yes. It is.”
“Tsk. Such chances don’t come often.”
I spoke firmly.
“I refuse.”
“Huhu. Is that so?”
The man nodded. He smacked his lips a few times as if regretful, then brushed his hands off.
“What now? Will you kill me?”
“You? Why would I? In the end, aren’t we comrades sharing a common enemy in the Heavenly Demon?”
The man grinned and slowly retreated.
“We’ll meet again. In a place reeking of blood.”
Whoosh!
Like a candle snuffed out, his presence vanished. I frantically scanned my surroundings. No one was there. Yet cold sweat ran down my spine. Every time the man spoke, the stench of rotting blood filled the air. At the same time, the demonic qi within my body ran wild on its own. It felt as if my hair stood on end, like a beast facing its natural enemy.
“A monster……”
* * *
The next day.
I had spent the night with my eyes wide open. Who in the world was he? No face came to mind. Even if I racked my brain wondering whether I had met him in my past life, nothing surfaced. Especially not someone with such sinister and bizarre qi—I couldn’t possibly have forgotten him.
There was nothing to suspect about his identity. Was this the appearance of a new enemy? Or an ally? Nothing was certain.
‘No point dwelling on it if nothing comes to mind.’
I would stay wary, but not obsess over it. For now, I would focus only on my own matters. With that resolve, I opened the door. Even here, I couldn’t afford to neglect my training.
“Huh?”
But training was impossible. Someone was already standing at the door, waiting for me.
“Ah, you’re awake, young hero.”
The man cupped his fists and greeted me as if by chance. Byeok Gong? The Mount Hua disciple who would later become the Plum Blossom Sword Master and make his name known throughout the martial world. His clear features, prominent nose, and strong gaze gave him a somewhat stubborn air, yet he was every bit a man.
“What brings you here so early……”
“If it’s not too presumptuous, I’d like to request a spar.”
“A spar?”
My brow furrowed at once. Does this man not know my reputation? The infamous Ju Woo-jin, the greatest scoundrel under heaven. How could he shamelessly ask for a spar against someone like me? Yet Byeok Gong’s eyes burned with pure longing. It seemed news of me had not reached Shaanxi, where the Mount Hua Sect was located.
“Must it be me……?”
“Ah, my master instructed me to witness the Ju family’s sword at all costs.”
Mount Hua was a sword sect. Naturally, they prided themselves on their swordsmanship. But in the present age, the pinnacle of the sword had been entirely seized by the Ju family. Two of the Ten Greats of the Martial World were the Ju family’s Sword Sovereign and Blood Sovereign, and even the rising star known as the Sword Dragon had been claimed by Ju Seung-hyeok. For Mount Hua, walking the path of the sword, there could be no greater humiliation.
“Well, if it’s just to loosen up a bit…… Let’s go.”
After a brief moment of thought, I nodded. Byeok Gong beamed like a child at my answer and quickly led the way to the training ground. Fortunately, the training ground was empty. Everyone had drunk late into the dawn and was still asleep.
Shring!
Byeok Gong drew his sword and assumed a ready stance. It was a light, agile posture characteristic of Mount Hua—bold and swift. Watching him, I slowly clenched my fist.
“Hmm? Young hero, you have no sword?”
“Ah, it’s a bit dangerous if I hold a sword.”
“Hahaha! It’s fine. I can control myself, so don’t worry……”
“No, you might be the one in danger, young disciple.”
At my words, Byeok Gong fell silent. It might have sounded arrogant, but I didn’t care. If I truly drew a sword, there would be far too much to worry about. Even if I restrained my strength to the utmost, it would be enough to cripple Byeok Gong.
“Overconfidence in oneself can sometimes invite bloodshed, young hero.”
“Yes.”
After a short reply, I advanced one step and lightly unleashed my footwork.
Thud!
A heavy tremor of inner energy. A mountain-like force spread in all directions like a roar. Byeok Gong’s expression hardened as he felt the momentum.
“Such an aura……”
Yet he quickly realized his mistake and raised his sword.
“I-I’ll take the initiative.”
I nodded without answering. Byeok Gong thrust his sword toward me. Dark Fragrance Drift—the Mount Hua secret lightness skill. It created the illusion of plum blossoms scattering across one’s vision before striking at the opening in a single breath. And soon, the sword qi of Mount Hua extended from Byeok Gong’s blade. The Fourteen-Hand Plum Blossom Sword Art. Before mastering the Twenty-Four-Hand version, this lower-tier art sent plum blossom petals swirling from the sword tip, beginning to constrict my entire body.
‘He’s blocking the key acupoints and directions I can step on first?’
I read Byeok Gong’s movements with a glance. He was still a young disciple, and his lack of experience showed—he kept making fatal mistakes.
‘His actions come first. His gaze also reveals where he intends to attack……’
Foolish. How could someone like this become the Plum Blossom Sword Master and alter Mount Hua’s fate in the future?
Crack!
I identified Byeok Gong’s blind spot and charged in. A blind spot meant the area beyond the angle of human vision. A place one could see yet not perceive. The Black King Advance Strike Body targeted such blind spots, unleashing lethal killing techniques in a single assault. First Form: Scattering Whirlwind Strike. It disrupted Byeok Gong’s vision, shook the sword tip to confuse him, then advanced one more step to close the distance and strike!
Boom!
With a heavy impact, Byeok Gong’s body was sent flying. Oh? An incredible improvisation. As expected of Mount Hua. In that fleeting instant, Byeok Gong had reversed his sword grip and blocked my fist with the flat of the blade. Of course, he hadn’t fully dissipated the force and suffered minor internal injuries.
“Kuhak.”
Breathing roughly, Byeok Gong stared at me in shock. Then he slowly opened his mouth.
“As expected, rumors can’t be trusted.”
“Rumors? Ah.”
I could guess what he would say next.
“I don’t know why such absurd nicknames are attached to you, young hero, but those people must be terribly jealous.”
“……”
No. Those rumors were true…… But I couldn’t bring myself to say it aloud.
“From now on, I’ll do this properly.”
With those words, Byeok Gong slowly brought his sword to the center of his chest. As he gently stroked the blade with his other hand, a violet sword qi began to frost over the tip. Sword Qi Manifestation? Reaching that realm meant he had at least attained the Peak Realm. Impressive. His skill was extraordinary for his age—on par with my elder brother Seung-hyeok, or perhaps just below. If I hadn’t undergone closed-door training, I might have lost. I swallowed hard and assumed my stance once more. Mount Hua’s sword was fierce—swift, precise, and capable of inducing severe illusions. Just like now! Byeok Gong’s assault began in an instant. Wielding his sword like a fan, he used Dark Fragrance Drift to close in on me. Shushuk! His sword surged forward, scattering plum blossom petals. Not real petals—the patterns themselves were the technique. A dazzling and sharp sword art. But in my eyes, I could see the stems between those petals. Tap. I didn’t bother dodging the sword. Instead, I lightly flicked the flat of the blade with my finger. Zing! The sword screamed and veered off course. Byeok Gong’s eyes widened as if they might pop out. “Your sword is too light, young disciple.” That brief opening was enough. If I had closed the distance, it would have been troublesome. The hallmark of Mount Hua’s sword was its swiftness—overwhelming the opponent’s throat with relentless speed until the end was reached. Therefore, I widened the gap. I broke his rhythm, severed his flow, and stole his breathing so that Byeok Gong couldn’t chain his techniques. Whoosh! Wall-Flowing Divine Steps. My figure swayed like rippling blue waves as I rapidly retreated. Byeok Gong flew at me like lightning, trying to pierce through my body, but it was futile. ‘A pity, but this is as far as it goes.’ I caught Byeok Gong’s charging figure and advanced one step. A single step. That difference sometimes carried earth-shaking power. Byeok Gong, now seemingly leaping straight into my embrace, belatedly tried to halt in alarm. But my fist was already tearing through the air. Thud! The tip of my fist touched Byeok Gong’s chest. Then I whispered softly into his ear. “I saw Mount Hua’s sword well, young disciple.” “……!” Boom! Byeok Gong’s body slid dozens of meters before being flung away. The plum blossom fragrance that had filled the surroundings vanished in an instant, as if washed away. I extended my hand toward the fallen man. Byeok Gong, wearing a hollow expression, stared blankly for a moment before coming to his senses and grasping my hand to rise. And at that moment— Clap clap clap! Applause echoed from all around. Before I knew it, other figures had gathered around the training ground, watching us. “Mount Hua’s sword and the Ju family’s fist. Both were a fine spectacle.” An elderly man with a benevolent face and warm smile approached me. Mong Yu-baek. The master of this villa. “A humble junior of the martial world, Ju Woo-jin, greets the master of Mong Family Villa, the great hero Mong Yu-baek.” I cupped my fists respectfully. Mong Yu-baek waved his hand dismissively and instead gently clasped mine. Then he smiled broadly and spoke. “Now I understand why that fellow Sang-geon sent you. Heh heh, I’ve found it. At last, I’ve found it.” “……Yes?” It was incomprehensible. And it was also a rather ominous sign. His eyes gleamed with greed. “It’s you. The true treasure the Ju family has been hiding.” Somehow, he seemed to have gravely misunderstood…… A chill ran down my spine.