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chapter 17
“Iii, iiiii….”
Ui Do-gun returned to his house, grinding his teeth. He had been thoroughly humiliated.
If the humiliation had happened where no one could see, he might have been able to bear it.
“Damn it!”
But the thought of his disgrace in the inn spreading through the markets and streets made his anger boil even hotter.
“Natural enemy? Nonsense! It wasn’t a natural enemy—it was trickery, sorcery!”
He felt wronged, bitter to his core.
At first, everything had gone exactly as he planned. He had shown himself to be bold before others, and he even had a righteous pretext—that the boy had insulted his clan.
If he had punished that brat who insulted the clan, he would not only have won the approval of others, but also scored points with Hyeon Su-mi, the one he had his eye on.
But instead…
“I will never forgive this.”
He had been shamed in front of Su-mi and countless others. After today, he doubted he would be able to show his face anywhere.
“Lord Do-gun!”
A servant’s voice came from outside.
“What is it?” he snapped irritably.
“Young master Do-gi is asking for you.”
At the mention of his second brother seeking him, his face twisted with displeasure.
“My second brother? For what reason?”
Until now, his second brother had never cared what he did.
“I do not know, young master!”
“Fine. Where is he?”
He had a feeling he knew why.
“He is at the training ground.”
“Damn it!”
Cursing under his breath, Ui Do-gun stormed out of his room toward the training ground where Ui Do-gi awaited.
A man in his mid-twenties stood alone in the yard, a spear in his hand, immersed in martial practice.
This was Shin Chang Medical Clan’s second son, Ui Do-gi.
“Brother!”
When Do-gun called out, Do-gi halted his training and turned to look at him.
He had a striking face with a sharply defined square jaw.
“Pick up a spear,” he said flatly.
Do-gun’s expression twisted once more.
Do-gi’s martial arts were nearly on par with their eldest brother, Ui Do-cheon. Facing him in sparring would leave Do-gun battered and bruised.
“I told you to pick up a spear.”
“B-brother…”
“If you won’t take up a spear, then I’ll swing this one at you under the assumption you think you can easily defeat me without it.”
Knowing his brother meant what he said, Do-gun reluctantly grabbed a spear and stood with it.
But instead of properly aiming at Do-gi, he let the spear rest on the ground, glaring at him.
“What is that? Holding the spear so loosely—do you mean to imply you could defeat me effortlessly?”
Even before his words ended, Do-gi thrust forward with his spear.
Chae-aeng!
Do-gun hastily raised his weapon to block, but the force made him lose his grip—the spear flew from his hands.
“Pick it up!”
Grinding his teeth, Do-gun retrieved it, gripping it tightly this time, glaring at his brother with determination not to let go again.
Pah-at!
A spear was primarily a weapon for thrusting. While less effective at slashing compared to swords or sabers, Do-gi’s movements were so powerful that such distinctions were meaningless.
What he displayed was none other than Thunderbolt Twelve Spears, the secret martial art of Thunderbolt Spear Yi Je-min, the technique that had built Shin Chang Clan’s renown.
“Hhhrrgh!”
Do-gun let out a strained shout as he blocked, but his spear snapped cleanly in two, the impact sending him stumbling backward until he fell.
Do-gi looked at him with disappointment, speaking in a low voice.
“I thought that even if you idled about, at the very least you would fulfill your duties properly first.”
Though he hated hearing such admonishment, Do-gun had no choice but to listen silently.
“I hear you brought disgrace to our clan at the inn today.”
“Brother! That boy used sorcery. Without tricks, he could never have defeated So-je.”
Do-gun blamed the Sword Spirit, insisting he had cheated. But Do-gi was only more disappointed.
He wasn’t looking for excuses.
What he had wanted to hear was acknowledgment of defeat—and a vow to train harder to repay the humiliation.
Instead…
“Do-gun!”
His tone shifted.
“Do you truly believe he used sorcery? That it wasn’t simply that your skills weren’t enough to beat him?”
“Yes! Otherwise, how could So-je have been frozen in place, unable to move?”
“Unable to move?”
“Yes. As if all strength drained from my body, I couldn’t move at all. He shamed me with sorcery, nothing more.”
Do-gi gazed into his brother’s eyes.
That unwavering look—it meant either he wasn’t lying, or he truly believed the boy had used sorcery.
“I heard the renowned Hero, Flame Sword Jeok Hwa-myeong, was there as well. Are you saying even he didn’t notice the use of sorcery?”
“That’s right. He has already sided with that brat instead of me. The trick was secretive and vile.”
“…I see. Very well. You may go.”
Do-gun turned to leave.
“Do-gun!”
He halted mid-step.
“If you were stronger, you wouldn’t be so easily ensnared by such tricks. Train harder, and don’t disappoint Father.”
Do-gun bit his lip.
“…I will.”
That night, the Sword Spirit shared drinks and conversation with Flame Sword Jeok Hwa-myeong at the inn until late.
What began as a meal became a drinking session, the two exchanging stories.
Mostly, Sword Spirit asked questions while Jeok Hwa-myeong answered—discussing the martial world.
“So then, the Tianlong Trading Guild is all but ruined?”
“Indeed. Thirty years ago, it was among the top ten trading guilds of the Central Plains. But afterward, decline set in. Now it is a shadow of its former self.”
The Tianlong Trading Guild.
Once a name that resounded throughout the Central Plains, boasting immense wealth and prestige. But a series of disasters—both natural and man-made—dealt it crushing blows, sending it spiraling downward.
The reason Sword Spirit was curious was simple—though few knew, the family of Solitary Demon Heavenly Flame Yeon was the Tianlong Trading Guild.
“And now?”
“They’ve lost all their former base. They run a small operation in Chungkyung, but even that isn’t easy.”
“I see.”
Hearing of their downfall left him feeling odd, but he had no intention of helping. Heavenly Flame Yeon himself had never asked him to.
“What about the Hwasung Medical Clan? Do you know of them?”
“Hwasung Medical Clan?”
Sword Spirit’s eyes sparkled with curiosity, almost childlike.
Jeok Hwa-myeong couldn’t help but smile.
“Yes, in Namnyeong, Chungkyung.”
“Of course. Their medical arts are among the best in the Central Plains. Many seek them for treatment. The problem is…”
“What problem?”
“They are famous for refusing to treat martial artists. Because of this, martial artists often cause trouble at their doors, leading to daily chaos.”
“Wow! Even with constant troublemakers, they still haven’t collapsed?”
In moments like this, Sword Spirit seemed like an innocent child.
“Yes. Their previous clan head, Physician Yak Jin-yong, was known as a ‘divine doctor’ and even served as imperial physician to the emperor himself. No matter how reckless martial artists may be, they wouldn’t dare go too far against him—else risk their entire clan’s extermination.”
Sword Spirit nodded faintly with a smile. Seeing it, Jeok Hwa-myeong tilted his head—he looked as if he had some personal connection with them.
Indeed, the Hwasung Medical Clan was the family of Jeonmo Yak-bing.
Born into a doctor’s household but gifted in martial arts, she was unacknowledged by her family, who feared her path. She too avoided mentioning her origins, fearing her clan would suffer reprisals from the demonic sects because of her.
“What about the Gu Family Ironworks in Namnyeong, Chungkyung?”
“The Gu Family Ironworks…”
Gu Family Ironworks!
It was said that nearly every weapon produced in the Central Plains came from their forges. Even now, countless weapons bore their mark.
Sword Spirit asked for only one reason—it was the family of Phantom Demon Emperor Gu Yeong-cheol.
The Tianlong Guild, Hwasung Medical Clan, and Gu Family Ironworks…
All three were based in Seorim, Chungkyung.
And the three people—Solitary Demon Heavenly Flame Yeon, Phantom Demon Emperor Gu Yeong-cheol, and Jeonmo Yak-bing—had once been childhood friends, playing in the same alley.
This secret, though not earth-shattering, was still unknown to the martial world.
‘So aside from Grandfather Solitary Demon’s clan, the others are still thriving.’
Step, step…
The faint sound of approaching footsteps grew louder until they stopped before the two.
It was the second son of the Shin Chang Medical Clan—Ui Do-gi.
“Ui Do-gi of the Shin Chang Clan greets Senior Flame Sword Jeok Hwa-myeong.”
