Submission of the Lightning Sword
Dok Junseong’s half-glazed eyes turned toward his severed beloved sword.
The blade known as the Maeng-a Sword—his pride and treasure, which had always ranked within the top fifty of the murim’s hundred greatest treasured swords, and at times had even felt like a close friend—now lay cut in two. The sight was utterly surreal.
“This… this is impossible…”
The words slipped out before he could stop them. He looked up at Han Yujin. The arrogance that had once filled his posture was completely gone.
No matter how much he wanted to deny it, anyone but a fool could see the difference in their strength. While cradling some kind of beast in one arm, the man had simply extended a finger from his other hand and shattered a treasured sword. If he had wished, that finger could have taken a neck instead of a blade.
Yet despite that, an inexplicable sense of injustice and desperation surged through Dok Junseong. He bowed so deeply it seemed his forehead might touch the ground.
“E-Esteemed Senior, I beg you for one more exchange. Please, at least grant me the chance to attack…!”
“You want me to receive a move from you?”
“Yes! Please!”
His original purpose had already been fulfilled, but confirming it more thoroughly wouldn’t hurt. Besides, it was always beneficial to witness the full power of a murim expert. Han Yujin nodded willingly.
“But don’t you lack a weapon?”
“I will prepare one immediately!”
Dok Junseong offered a quick bow as if asking for a moment’s patience, then spun on his heel and vanished.
Each stride stretched his form like lightning. The speed was so explosive it reminded Yujin of himself unleashing the Wind Cloud Step at full power back during his Initiation Stage.
Seems he’s more skilled than Emma Goju.
Before even a minute had passed, Dok Junseong returned with two swords—apparently borrowed from the gate guards. He set one on the ground, tucked the other into his belt, and removed the scabbard of his original treasured sword.
The fleeting look of anguish that crossed his face as he discarded the sheath was both slightly amusing and pitiable.
Letting my guard down completely would be unwise.
Yujin sharpened his focus once more. He watched as his opponent finished preparing and assumed a stance, then gave a small nod.
“Begin.”
“I will fight with everything I have.”
The solemn tone made Yujin tighten his own mental reins a little further.
Dok Junseong spread his legs and lowered his center of gravity. Like a bolt of lightning, the sword flew free from its sheath.
The blade split into twelve lethal streaks in an instant, each one aimed at a vital point across his opponent’s body.
Even within a slowed perception of the world, the speed was threatening. The technique used a brilliant, star-like manipulation of energy.
Yujin immediately recognized it as the rumored Sword Qi. Only then did he realize that Dok Junseong was a Harmonization realm expert—one stage above Emma Goju.
Fortunately, even a full-powered swift sword from a Harmonization master did not surpass the reach of his divine sense and cognitive ability.
A suitable surge of golden radiance flowed out, effortlessly blocking the incoming sword energy. Then a hand wrapped in even denser golden light caught the real blade with nothing but fingers, stopping it cold.
In that instant, Dok Junseong spun his entire body through the air, twisting the sword free. The moment he landed, he erupted with dazzling light and circled to Yujin’s left like a flickering afterimage, thrusting once more.
An advanced movement art that was both extremely fast and laced with illusion, designed to disturb the opponent’s perception.
With a thunderous boom, the incoming sword seemed slightly slower than the previous technique, yet its cunning ability to induce misjudgment was superb. The true strike came a half-beat later from a completely different angle.
An illusion sword disguised as a swift sword—one of Dok Junseong’s hidden aces. If one only knew him by his nickname, Lightning Sword, it was a move that could easily claim a victim.
Yet once again, the blade was caught helplessly between fingers wrapped in golden radiance.
As if to prevent any escape this time, a fluid, water-like energy poured out alongside it, locking the sword in place with overwhelming pressure.
Crack!
Unable to endure the combined force of both men, the sword simply snapped.
Dok Junseong hurriedly retreated several steps. Seeing that Han Yujin had not moved a single inch from his original spot, he bowed with a respect that could not possibly be more profound.
“I have been utterly defeated.”
“Mm. Indeed.”
Having roughly measured the combat strength of a Harmonization expert, Yujin nodded in satisfaction. It was a level he could handle without carelessness, and no matter how many opponents came, he could evade them all if he chose.
At that moment, something in Yujin’s expression and bearing seemed to spark a thought in Dok Junseong. Instead of a simple bow, the man dropped to his knees.
“Please, Esteemed Senior, grant me your honorable name.”
“Han Yujin.”
“If it is not too rude… may I ask which sect you belong to?”
“Why do you want to know?”
“If possible… I wish to enter as your disciple!”
For a brief moment, an expression of pure bewilderment crossed Yujin’s face.
Whether aware of it or not, Dok Junseong kept his head lowered and spoke with raw desperation.
“I, Dok Junseong, began as a sectless wanderer. I entered the Orthodox Alliance and climbed to my current position through countless trials and adversities. Until now, I believed I had overcome them rather well… but no matter what, I cannot find the path to the Profound realm.”
He pressed his forehead fully to the ground and cried out.
“I do not wish to stop here and grow complacent! Please accept me as your disciple! I swear upon the heavens that I will devote myself with the loyalty of a dog or a horse!”
The faint bewilderment in Yujin’s eyes narrowed slightly.
So there are many ways we can make use of each other, is that it?
Though defeated, Dok Junseong was a Harmonization expert with a solid position inside the Orthodox Alliance. At the same time, Yujin possessed strength great enough to subdue such an expert yet remained completely unknown.
The more he considered it, the more he realized that having a “disciple” who swore to devote himself like a loyal hound was not a bad thing at all.
The master-disciple relationship was not limited to the warm, honorable bond found in novels. Relationships of mutual benefit—much like superior and subordinate—could exist just as easily.
Of course, accepting him as a disciple right away would look improper. The other party surely understood this as well; this was simply his way of openly suggesting a transaction.
I wonder what would happen if I taught murim warriors my techniques.
Curiosity stirred within him. After a brief silence while gazing down at the prostrated man, Yujin spoke.
“I have no desire to suddenly take as a disciple someone I met for the first time today.”
“Of course, I understand how unreasonable my request is. Please do not take offense, and consider the depth of my desperation. If there is even the slightest hint of hypocrisy or falsehood in my conduct, I will kill myself immediately.”
The earnest tone and attitude carried a sincerity that surpassed a certain threshold.
“You don’t know what kind of person I am either, correct? It would be best if we interacted gradually.”
“…D-Does that mean you will accept me?”
Despite his fierce features, Dok Junseong’s face lit up with hope as he raised his head.
Yujin gave a silent nod and said, “I require one box each of Awakening Herb and Awakening Incense, one box of Awakening Herb seeds along with its cultivation method, and finally the various secret recipes for producing Awakening Incense.”
“I will prepare everything within one week!”
Dok Junseong bowed once more with the utmost respect, cleaned up all traces of the spar, and left the training ground.
Watching him depart, Yujin concluded that having a well-connected subordinate was not a bad thing at all. Even if he only used the man without fully trusting him, it would save considerable effort.
The next day.
Having received an invitation from the leader of the Orthodox Alliance, Han Yujin headed toward the central district of the alliance headquarters with Mu-yong still cradled in his arms.
The guiding warrior’s attitude and eyes were filled with clear reverence. It seemed the news of how he had dealt with Emma Goju and the outcome of his spar with Dok Junseong had already spread. Otherwise, such a respectful demeanor would have been difficult to explain.
This doesn’t feel bad at all.
Suppressing the urge to square his shoulders with pride, he arrived at a place steeped in solemn atmosphere.
After walking down the pleasant corridor inside the building and entering the reception room, an old man was already waiting. Though elderly, his hair, eyebrows, and beard were a vibrant silver that seemed full of life. Simply sitting there, he radiated robust health.
White Flower Sword Venerable, Han Mu-jeong.
A Profound realm expert and former elder of the mighty Taeyangmun. Thirty years ago during the Righteous-Evil Great War, he had earned great fame by simultaneously slaying two Harmonization experts from the evil faction.
“Please, come in.”
Despite being the leader of the powerful Orthodox Alliance, he greeted Yujin with considerable politeness. He even rose from his seat and personally pulled out the chair opposite him.
“Thank you.”
Yujin returned the courtesy and sat down. His personality had always been to respond in kind to whatever he received.
While the alliance leader returned to his own seat, several maids entered and arranged tea and refreshments. The aroma was so pleasant that even Yujin, a master refiner, found it quite appealing.
Once they had all withdrawn, the leader spoke first in a gentle voice, offering his gratitude.
“I am deeply thankful that you rescued the promising talents of our righteous path from the Black Water division of the Dark Shadow Demon Cult.”
“It wasn’t particularly intentional. That fellow Emma Goju essentially committed suicide.”
Describing the attack against him in such terms made the alliance leader chuckle dryly.
“I also heard that yesterday you exchanged moves with the leader of our alliance’s Black Tiger Unit. It seems you have taken great care of us in many ways…”
“It was merely a spar. He asked for guidance, so I obliged.”
“Truly magnanimous.”
A few more casual exchanges followed in a similarly comfortable atmosphere. The tea proved as smooth as its fragrance, leaving Yujin thoroughly satisfied. They even conversed about the tea itself several times.
Once or twice, the leader’s gaze drifted toward Mu-yong nestled in Yujin’s arms. However, perhaps finding it awkward to ask, he never brought the subject up.
Once the mood had grown sufficiently relaxed, the main topic finally emerged.
“May I ask the reason for your visit to the Orthodox Alliance?”
An unknown Profound realm expert settling down in their territory was naturally a source of concern.
Yujin did not beat around the bush. He stated his business directly.
“As you have likely already investigated, I have no particular ties to the murim world and lack knowledge in many areas. Naturally, I am very interested in various martial arts.”
“Martial arts… Are you saying you desire secret manuals?”
“Exactly. Is there no good way for me to obtain them?”
“Why would you seek such things? It cannot be that you wish to learn them yourself.”
Yujin nodded. “I wish to compare them with what I have already learned, reinforce my own techniques, or perhaps create something new.”
“You seek the path of a grandmaster.”
The leader seemed to understand, yet he stroked his beard once with a clearly troubled expression.
“Well, once one reaches our level, it is something everyone contemplates at least once. To observe every martial art under the heavens and create something new and superior.”
“Precisely.”
“However… there is a reason such thoughts usually remain mere thoughts. What faction would willingly hand over their secret manuals to a complete stranger?”
He let out a sigh. Yujin asked, “Would it be difficult even if offered in the form of a trade?”
“A trade? What sort of trade?”
“For example, something like this.”
As he spoke, Yujin raised one hand and cast a small flame bullet technique.
Small Flame Bullet
It was only walnut-sized, yet the room was instantly filled with terrifying heat. The alliance leader’s eyes flashed with immediate tension.
Yujin dispersed the flame himself and continued, “Exchanging this technique of mine for a technique from Taeyangmun. We would both swear not to leak the other’s art, of course.”
“……”
A complex, subtle expression appeared on the face of Han Mu-jeong—the old man who had been an elder of Taeyangmun long before becoming the leader of the Orthodox Alliance.
The heat he had just felt was threatening even to him, a man who prided himself on having few equals in the murim world. Acquiring a technique of that caliber would clearly be beneficial for Taeyangmun.
“The question is whether the secret can be properly kept…”
“Does the Orthodox Alliance not possess any martial secret manuals?”
He had asked while assuming they naturally would. The leader nodded readily.
“Of course we do. However, there will not be any advanced martial arts that would catch your eye.”
“As I mentioned earlier, I know very little about the murim world. Even if the techniques are of a lower level, they will be more than enough to broaden my horizons.”
“Hmm… Is that so…?”
He stroked his beard again, deep in thought.
“May I ask which sect you belong to?”
It was a somewhat sensitive question, but Yujin had expected it. He smiled and answered without hesitation.
“It is called the Ohaeng Sect. You will likely never have heard of it, as it belongs to neither the righteous nor the evil path.”
“Ohaeng Sect… Indeed, I have never heard of it. Is it one of those mysterious one-successor transmission sects spoken of only in rumors?”
Yujin glanced briefly at the air above before nodding.
“For now, yes.”
“It seems there is a story behind it. In any case, since you have clearly stated that you belong to neither the righteous nor evil paths, it puts my mind somewhat at ease.”
Though words alone could hardly be trusted to put one’s mind at ease, the leader spoke as if they did and continued pondering.
Then he suddenly asked, “I heard you already possess one piece of the map.”
“I received it from Seogwang Gahu. He said it was the price for saving his life.”
“Haha… In that case, would you be willing to participate in the exploration once the map is completed?”
The other party had offered exactly what he had inwardly desired.
“If you promise to exert your strength at that time, it would not be difficult for us to open the Scripture Pavilion of the Orthodox Alliance. Naturally, an oath of non-disclosure would be required.”
“Very well. You may set aside any worries about leaking information.”
Yujin’s refreshingly decisive attitude caused the leader to pause for a moment before letting out a warm laugh.
“Then I suppose I must trouble you until that time.”
“Rather, it is what I desire. By the way, would you consider remaining here as a guest elder…?”
“I will need to think about that a little further.”
The two men seated across from each other shared pleasant laughter and enjoyed their tea.
Instead of returning to the guest quarters, Han Yujin spoke to the guiding warrior and headed straight for the Scripture Pavilion.
The pavilion was larger than expected and guarded with strict security. Thanks to the direct permission of the alliance leader, he was able to enter without any trouble.
“It consists of three floors in total.”
According to the guide’s explanation, the martial manuals here either did not belong to any particular powerful faction or had been partially donated by sects that had joined the Orthodox Alliance.
The higher the floor, the more advanced the techniques stored there. On the top floor—the third—there were even a few manuals capable of leading one to the Harmonization realm. As an added note, he learned that Dok Junseong’s own martial art had come from this very pavilion.
“I will wait outside.”
After the brief explanation, the guide left. Yujin began his serious inspection.
So Dok Junseong really did start as a wanderer without a sect.
Of course, he wouldn’t have told a lie that could be exposed with even a little investigation.
Why did he ask to become my disciple? To avoid getting entangled in the political struggles within the righteous faction? Because in his current position, no one else would accept him sincerely? Or because it seemed easy to be accepted by someone like me who appeared alone?
Perhaps he simply wanted to secure a solid position under a newly arrived Profound realm powerhouse without having to worry about territorial disputes. Depending on one’s perspective, it could certainly feel like an incredible opportunity.
There could be any number of reasons. Even an irrational feeling of fated connection could serve as one.
While thinking, he scanned the numerous manuals on the first floor at tremendous speed. With his divine sense, there was no need to pull books from the shelves and open them; he could grasp their entire contents instantly.
His eye as a Dharma Soul stage investigator also allowed him to roughly judge what to discard. In roughly the time it took to drink one cup of tea, he climbed the stairs to the second floor.
They’re all basically miscellaneous texts.
Not entirely useless, but nothing worth committing to memory.
Fortunately, the manuals on the second floor were a different story.
Those donated by the long-established forces within the Orthodox Alliance possessed genuine depth, even if the latter sections were missing. They did not feel like dead ends.
What particularly caught his attention were the manuals from the Seogwang Clan, Biryu Clan, Hyeonbaek Sect, Unhae Sect, and Yunhoeseongbul Temple.
Not because they were exceptionally outstanding, but because they focused on the fundamentals of martial arts without leaning toward any special attributes, making them feel more universal.
Since Yujin intended to spread this world’s martial arts to Earth, he could not ignore such aspects.
The techniques of Taeyangmun, contrary to his hopes, were too heavily biased toward the fire attribute to suit his taste. They were certainly powerful, but it was equally clear they would impose various restrictions on future growth.
Unless one could reach the True Immortal stage by following this path.
There were many ways to break such restrictions, but for a mere martial art, it was truly arrogant.
After carefully memorizing every technique worth remembering, he ascended to the third floor.
The third floor was noticeably smaller in area and held far fewer manuals. Yujin examined each one closely with his divine sense, sometimes nodding, sometimes shaking his head.
No wonder the alliance leader granted permission so readily.
He had expected advanced arts capable of reaching the Harmonization realm, yet there were only three such manuals, and all of them felt as though the path beyond was blocked.
Unfortunately, the mental technique Bright Light Heart Lightning Art that Dok Junseong had likely learned was the same. Whoever had created this mental technique—if done intentionally—must have been an utterly shameless individual.
He must have never wanted to see his subordinates reach the Profound realm.
After pondering the manual for a moment, Yujin returned it to the shelf with the thought that he could make good use of this situation.
If Dok Junseong ever learned the truth, he would realize he had been thoroughly used as a long-term pawn of the Orthodox Alliance.
Then who would he cling to?
Obviously only me.
How useful the man would prove in the future remained uncertain, but securing one solid subordinate was not a bad thing.
After reading through every manual on the third floor several more times and committing them perfectly to memory, Yujin left the Scripture Pavilion.
The sun had already set once and risen again. The guiding warrior, who had waited through the night, stood with a slightly tired expression before hurriedly composing himself.
“You waited the entire time? There was no need for that…”
With a touch of apology, Yujin offered him some encouraging words before heading straight to the guest quarters. Now that he had finished memorizing the martial arts, it was time to carefully reflect on them and fully digest their contents.
However, the moment he arrived at the guest quarters, his divine sense picked up quite a few unfamiliar presences.
They were none other than the dozen or so new maids assigned to attend him. All of them were young, exceptionally beautiful, and carried clear traces of martial training. From the conversations he overheard, they all came from renowned clans.
Ha.
A very traditional and obvious method, yet one that was just as effective: the honey trap.
Still… it isn’t some sinister scheme. They’re simply trying to draw me to their side. There’s no need to reject them.
Suppressing the dry cough that threatened to escape, Yujin stepped inside.
Among the maids politely bowing in greeting, he spotted a familiar face and involuntarily stopped in his tracks.
It was Eun Miryeong, the Clear Stream White Phoenix of the Hyeonbaek Sect. A woman whose fame and skill were far too conspicuous for a place like this.
“Wait, why are you here?”
It was strange for a major sect like Hyeonbaek to employ a honey trap, so the question came naturally.
Eun Miryeong answered with her head slightly lowered. Yujin could not fail to notice that the tips of her ears had turned a faint shade of red.
“I volunteered.”
“……”
Yujin rolled his eyes once, then simply nodded.