Chapter 1 ….

Seven Years

Honam Province, the prestigious Jin Clan.

Screams erupted from every corner of the manor engulfed in flames, and a path of blood cut through the estate.

An attack by mysterious assailants.

The Jin Clan  one of the Six Great Orthodox Families of the martial world, was now…

…on the brink of annihilation.

Standing atop a tall pavilion overlooking the carnage, the head of the Jin Clan, Jin Cheongun, pressed a hand against the stab wound in his abdomen.

But the blood pouring through his fingers showed no sign of stopping.

“You must go, Jaseong. Go… there.”

“I cannot.”

Clad in robes embroidered with the ‘Jin ‘ emblem—the symbol of the Jin Clan—I stood with my arm hanging limply at my side.

Blood dripped from my sword, splattering onto the ground.

“Can’t you hear them?! The retainers… our family is calling for you!”

“Patriarch…”

I was a collateral blood relative who had entered the Jin Clan and inherited the surname ‘Jin.’

That was who I was.

Jin Jaseong.

“The Jin Clan… is already finished.”

My voice was low and merciless.

At those words, Jin Cheongun’s eyes trembled faintly, as though he had been struck speechless.

Countless faces flashed through my mind.

The faces of the people of the Jin Clan, with whom I had shared meals for ten long years.

“Have you identified them? Was it the Evil Alliance? Or… could it have been the outsiders from beyond the frontier?”

The attackers were masters whose abilities rivaled the elite forces of the greatest alliances and sects.

When I returned from the front lines of the Orthodox-Demonic War…

…everything had already ended.

“We have confirmed nothing.”

The Patriarch slowly moved the hand that had been covering his wound.

Blood immediately gushed from the opening without restraint.

“Has no one from the Murim Alliance arrived yet?”

Instead of answering whether reinforcements had come, I quietly shook my head.

That alone was enough.

Jin Cheongun slowly nodded with lonely eyes.

It had already been three shichen since the massacre began.

Yet throughout all that time…

The Orthodox Murim had done absolutely nothing.

“So… it has come to this.”

“…”

His voice sank even lower.

“Do you remember? When you first entered this family, you were only a child. You were handed a sword almost immediately. You never had the luxury of choosing.”

Despite having no background or lineage…

The Jin Clan had accepted me solely because of my talent.

I learned the Jin Clan’s martial arts.

Jin Cheongun personally recommended me to the Murim Alliance

As my martial arts improved, I accumulated countless achievements.

Eventually…

I became known as the Sword of the Murim Alliance.

“I do not regret taking you in that day. You fulfilled your duty better than anyone.”

“Patriarch…”

His gaze drifted toward the blood-soaked battlefield below the pavilion, where smoke and screams intertwined.

“And yet… whenever I looked at your face, I always felt guilty.”

“I stained your hands with far too much blood…”

A sword does not think.

For years, I lived only by obeying orders.

Though I had risen to become the commander of the Murim Alliance…

My life had been far removed from righteousness.

Dozens upon dozens of Demonic sects had fallen beneath these very hands.

“I had hoped to witness the day you would stand proudly above not only the Jin Clan, but all of Murim.”

“That… is my greatest regret.”

I could say nothing.

Even as the flame of his life faded…

…he worried only about me.

Was it pity?

Perhaps it was no different from the guilt filling my own heart, unable to properly face his blood-covered face.

“Jaseong.”

“Yes, Patriarch. Please speak.”

“Leave the Jin Clan.”

“If you’re alone… you can still escape.”

“You still have many things left to accomplish.”

He was telling me to flee.

To abandon the lord I had served my entire life.

To leave behind the family who shared my surname.

“I cannot.”

“Jaseong… forget both the Jin Clan and the Murim Alliance.”

“Live your own life.”

“I can’t.”

“You must come with me…”

As I knelt before him, Jin Cheongun struggled to lift his hand and grasped the back of mine.

His hand had already turned cold.

My throat tightened on its own.

“I… am already beyond saving.”

“So go.”

“And survive.”

“Walk… your own…”

Unable to finish his final sentence…

He died with his eyes still open.

The hand resting atop mine slipped away lifelessly.

Grinding my teeth, I slowly reached forward and gently closed his eyes.

Barely managing to stand on trembling legs, I bowed deeply.

“You have worked hard, Patriarch.”

A resolute determination filled my eyes.

From this moment onward…

I would raise my sword not as one following the orders of the clan—

But as a martial artist acting by his own will.

Before I could gather my thoughts, my body moved first.

The familiar corridors and stairways flashed past.

“There he is!”

The enemies had already reached the Patriarch’s residence.

Sword in hand, I charged toward them.

A brutal battle erupted.

Even while fighting, I searched desperately for survivors within the clan.

But everywhere I looked…

Everything had already been reduced to ashes.

Then—

“I’m scared… Mmph…”

The tearful voice of a child echoed from inside a pavilion.

“Shh… Please… you mustn’t cry now, Young Master.”

Turning toward the sound, I saw a woman trembling in one corner of the building, clutching a child in her arms.

“Who’s there?!”

“C-Commander…”

She was one of the maids serving in the inner residence.

And the child she held…

Was none other than the Patriarch’s own blood.

The youngest child of the Jin Clan.

“Muyeon…”

“So you survived…”

The legitimate heir of the clan was still alive.

Though faint…

Hope had not yet vanished.

My grip on the sword tightened once more.

“We’re leaving.”

“We must escape this place.”

“Y-Yes.”

Dozens…

Hundreds…

Black shadows surged toward us endlessly.

I have to get him out.

No matter what, this child must survive and continue the Jin Clan’s bloodline.

By the time my entire body had become soaked in blood…

I finally escaped through the rear gate with the maid and the child.

Without stopping, we entered the forest and ran through the trees.

“Huff… Huff…”

“Where are we going?”

“We’ll cross the Yangtze River and head to Hubei.”

Hubei Province.

There was someone there who would surely help us.

With that hope in mind, we hurried along an isolated mountain path.

Then—

I suddenly stopped.

The maid following behind looked at me in confusion.

“Commander… what’s wrong?”

But my gaze never left the path ahead.

About ten of them.

Three are undoubtedly master-level experts.

My True Qi had already been exhausted.

My body had long since reached its limit.

I looked at the child cradled in the maid’s arms.

Though only a little boy…

His delicate features were remarkably beautiful.

“Even if I die…”

“I’ll make sure you survive.”

It was the only way I could repay the Patriarch for taking me in.

I immediately pulled a pouch of silver from my robes and handed it to the maid.

“Go that way.”

“Head straight to the Zhuge Clan.”

“W-What…?”

“Hurry!”

“There’s no time to explain!”

“Y-Yes!”

The maid immediately dashed into the undergrowth.

But in the next instant—

A sharp whistle tore through the air.

An assassin’s hidden weapon pierced her back.

“Ghk!”

She collapsed with a dying scream.

“Damn it!”

Without the slightest hesitation, I kicked off the ground.

At the edge of my vision…

I saw the youngest child of the Jin Clan—

Jin Muyeon.

“Muyeon!”

“Uncle…”

The little boy’s voice, too young even to pronounce the words properly…

Was almost a sob.

At that very moment…

A group of figures emerged from behind the trees.

Each wore black robes.

Each radiated extraordinary killing intent.

They were undoubtedly the same people who had attacked the Jin Clan.

“Who are you?”

“Who attacked the Jin Clan?”

“Our identity?”

One of the black-clad men stepped forward with a slight tilt of his head.

“Even if I told you…”

“You wouldn’t know.”

Despite his casual appearance…

The aura emanating from him belonged unmistakably to a supreme master.

I raised my sword toward him.

Cold sweat ran down my forehead.

“Enough nonsense.”

“Answer me.”

“Well…”

“I suppose letting one man know before he dies isn’t so bad.”

The eyes visible through his mask gleamed.

Meeting those savage eyes, like those of a wild beast…

The blood in my veins seemed to turn cold.

“Heukmyeong (黑明).”

I had spent years in the Murim Alliance gathering intelligence on every major force in the Central Plains.

Yet…

It was a name I had never heard before.

“Heukmyeong?”

“Are you part of the Evil Alliance?”

“Hah.”

“Exactly that expression.”

“The one that says you’ve never heard of us.”

He sneered.

“Tell me.”

“Why do you think Patriarch Jin Cheongun died so easily?”

“Because he was weak?”

“Because he was caught off guard?”

The moment he mentioned the Patriarch—

One possibility flashed through my mind.

“Don’t tell me…”

“Jin Cheongun was ambushed by one of the sleeper assassins we planted inside the Jin Clan.”

“And you never even realized.”

Only then…

I finally understood the true meaning behind the Patriarch’s final order.

Do not seek revenge.

Someone within the clan…

Had betrayed them.

“Heukmyeong…”

“Sleeper assassins…”

As I muttered to myself, the black-clad man continued.

“More importantly…”

“That child.”

“Is he of the Jin Clan’s bloodline?”

The moment he mentioned Muyeon…

My eyes turned icy.

“He’s only a three-year-old child.”

“Don’t even think about it.”

“So…”

“Judging by your reaction…”

“He really is the legitimate heir.”

“In that case…”

Before the order had even fully left his lips…

The black-clad warriors behind him moved.

I stepped backward, shielding Muyeon behind me.

If I fail here…

The Jin Clan’s bloodline ends today.

Even if it cost me my life…

I had to stop them.

“Your spirit is admirable.”

“But with a body that’s already dying…”

“How long can you really last?”

The battle exploded instantly.

Though I stood alone…

I had once commanded the Baekwi Corps, the vanguard of the Murim Alliance.

Each swing of my sword sent blades flying.

Two…

Three black-clad assassins fell at a time.

Just a little longer…

But by the time I had reached this place…

Almost all of my True Qi had already been spent.

Before even a quarter of an hour had passed…

My body finally gave out.

At that instant—

A spear shot toward me.

Slash!

It pierced straight through my thigh.

As my movements slowed…

Swords rushed in from every direction.

They impaled my entire body.

“Ghk…”

The moment the breath I had desperately held onto finally escaped…

The flame of determination burning within my sword went out.

“Huff…”

“Huff…”

Supporting myself with my sword planted into the earth…

I remained kneeling.

The same black-clad leader slowly approached me.

“So…”

“You’ve mastered that absurd sword art capable of shattering techniques.”

“So you’re the famous Commander of the Murim Alliance’s Baekwi Corps.”

“The rumors were true.”

“Had another ten years passed…”

“We might not have been able to stop you.”

“…”

I no longer had the strength to answer.

Blood flowed down my forehead.

The world turned crimson.

At the edge of my fading vision…

Muyeon sat on the ground, crying helplessly.

“Muyeon…”

I called his name with my trembling voice.

But it never reached him.

---

In the end…

I failed to change anything.

Not the Patriarch’s final wish.

Nor Muyeon’s life.

The black-clad leader’s harsh voice scraped through the air.

“You fought well.”

“As a reward…”

“I’ll send you off without pain.”

“Any last words?”

Gathering every last ounce of strength, I roared.

“Even if I die and become a vengeful spirit wandering the Nine Heavens…”

“I will find every last one of you…”

“And tear you to pieces.”

“Remember this.”

“My name is Jin Jaseong—!”

Slash!

The black-clad man’s sword flashed.

My severed head rolled across the ground.

“I’ll look forward to it.”

A fountain of blood erupted into the air.

I watched my headless body collapse forward.

And then…

 

Darkness consumed my vision.