## Ch-113.
—
All of Yicheon Mountain belongs to the Yicheon Sword Sect, and among its lands, Pointed Sword Valley is a forbidden ground that ordinary disciples cannot even approach.
The reason it is forbidden is simple. The one called Sect Leader must ordinarily be the strongest within the sect, and to maintain such strength, one cannot neglect training.
For generations, Pointed Sword Valley has been the place where the Yicheon Sword Sect Leader trains his blade. Across these desolate rocky mountains remain the Sword Paths of past sect leaders, and within hidden caves lie the realizations and writings on martial arts left behind by predecessors for their successors.
Thus, outsiders must never enter.
Even within the Yicheon Sword Sect, only the Sect Leader may freely come and go here. Others may enter only after deliberation—such as the Sect Leader’s direct successor, or rising talents whom the sect carefully nurtures.
“……”
The current Sect Leader of Yicheon Sword Sect—
Baekgeom (Hundred Swords) Gongsun Myeong.
His father, the Nine-Heavens Wall-Splitting Sword Gongsun Jeolhu, had died in a life-and-death duel against Heavenly Demon Wi Jinhwa. For decades since, Gongsun Myeong had led the sect.
“Heavens above.”
It would not be an exaggeration to say this was the greatest crisis he had faced since ascending to leadership.
“It’s been a while!”
First, Gongsun Myeong calmly reexamined what he was seeing.
The surrounding terrain was largely intact. The cliffs had not collapsed. The earth was not overturned. There were no massive craters.
That was a great relief. Those towering cliffs and rocky mountains bore the Sword Paths of past leaders, and hidden caves lay scattered throughout.
They were the sect’s great legacy—meant to endure through rain, snow, and time.
“Good to see you!”
The woman smiling brightly at him.
Unfortunately, Gongsun Myeong knew her.
*If we were strangers, would she have gone elsewhere?*
Even had they been strangers, she seemed the type who would force her way in regardless. If so, perhaps this was not misfortune but fortune. At least with this ferocious master, ordinary conversation was possible.
“It has been a long time.”
Gongsun Myeong, who rarely bowed his head to anyone, relaxed his stiff neck and inclined it slightly.
“You might have informed me before visiting.”
“Did you not receive my notice?”
Her smiling face tilted.
Notice? He had received no letter.
“What I heard was only that you rampaged at Yonghwa Lake.”
“You heard correctly! That was precisely the notice this Lorellia sent!”
The instant he heard that, a pulse throbbed at the back of his neck.
He closed his eyes briefly and swallowed the anger rising from deep within his chest.
“You did that… deliberately?”
“Not at all! What happened at Yonghwa Lake was an unfortunate accident.”
“An accident…? I heard you rampaged unilaterally.”
“Who told you that?”
“The Twin Beggars of Iron from the Beggars’ Sect.”
Those two famed guardian masters of the Beggars’ Sect were still recuperating at an inn near Yonghwa Lake. Their external injuries were not severe—but their internal injuries, especially mental ones, were another matter.
Gongsun Myeong understood.
To face that woman—Calamity Star—was to feel something you had built through a lifetime of martial pursuit snap in two. The more confident you were in your skill, the worse it was.
He himself had once been broken that way and spent months recovering.
“They say they were beaten by you and dragged to Yonghwa Lake in disgrace.”
“This Lorellia did not wish to fight. I did not raise my fist first. Had those beggar brats sought conversation, I would have answered with conversation—but they raised their fists!”
“Yonghwa Lake… is a famed site of this region. It has long preserved its beauty…”
“Do not assign grand meaning to a mere hole filled with water that holds not even a myth, much less a legend!”
“And the Yonghwa Inn… was built upon a site personally chosen by the Sect Leader four generations ago—”
“Is that this Lorellia’s concern?”
He closed his eyes again.
A lively voice continued in his ears.
“Compensation for damages may be claimed from the Beggars’ Sect!”
“Where would beggars have money?”
“You know very well those who dress like beggars are not truly poor. The Beggar King has hoarded funds greater than those of the impoverished Order Church!”
“The Beggars’ Sect Leader is a great hero.”
“Yes! And as a great hero, he will take responsibility for his beggars’ misconduct!”
He was still not convinced.
*Still… she is not striking me.*
Though unconvinced, conversation was at least possible.
With quiet relief, Gongsun Myeong looked down near her feet.
Three figures dressed like beggars lay collapsed there.
Thankfully, none were corpses.
Seeing faint breaths rising from them, he let out a short sigh.
“If I saw correctly, they are the young Three Heroes who disappeared with you. Is that so?”
“That is correct!”
“You are aware this is Pointed Sword Valley, the forbidden ground of Yicheon Sword Sect?”
“Of course!”
“Forbidden means outsiders must not enter. If a sect outsider intrudes, it becomes war with Yicheon Sword Sect.”
“Do you wish for war?”
“I do not.”
He shook his head quickly.
“I only ask that you consider the name of my sect and my dignity. Is it necessary to stay here?”
“Correct! It is not necessary. But had I gone elsewhere, would you have hurried here as you have now?”
She smiled broadly and raised her hand.
“Provide a place to stay—short if one month, long if a year! It must be open-air, with wide space, and free from meeting others! And meals and daily necessities as well!”
“Must it be Yicheon Mountain?”
“Yonghwa Lake’s nearest suitable place was here.”
Of course.
He sighed and nodded.
“Are you taking the Three Heroes as disciples?”
“Ahahahaha!”
Her laughter rang aloud.
“Disciples? Not at all. Those three have achieved deeds for which the Order Church must express gratitude and repay. Thus this Lorellia, representing the Order, intends to repay them.”
“So you will not take them as disciples, but you will personally instruct them. You must see great potential in them.”
“Yes! Among the young generation, none shine as brightly as they do!”
“If that is the reason… very well.”
Even if he refused, she would force him to agree.
“I will make preparations today and return. Until then, please promise not to destroy Pointed Sword Valley.”
“I promise! And!”
At that word, his face stiffened.
What further absurd demand would she make?
But what followed was entirely unexpected.
“Once a week, I will spar with you as well.”
His shoulders trembled faintly.
She did not say that because she desired it.
Rather, it was he who had long desired to spar with Calamity Star.
He immediately formed a fist salute.
“My thanks.”
“However, I will not moderate my strength as I do with lambs. Do not come thinking lightly of it as mere sparring.”
“I will come prepared.”
He gazed at her for a moment, eyes lit, then asked:
“When did you last see Heavenly Demon?”
“Two years ago!”
“How great did you feel the gap between you?”
“I thought that if I resolved to perish together, I might kill half of him—but upon facing him, the distance was greater. At that time, even with such resolve, perhaps I could have severed one arm.”
“And now?”
“I have trained for two years and gained attainment—but that old man has not been idle either.”
“If you seek to kill the Heavenly Demon, I too will stake my life.”
Gongsun Myeong did not know the precise relationship between Calamity Star and the Heavenly Demon.
But he knew that she bore immense hatred and killing intent toward him.
Decades ago—when news arrived of the former Sect Leader’s death.
Though his father’s defeat in the life-and-death duel had already been expected by both his father himself and the sect elders, a son could not simply remain still.
Much younger than he was now, Gongsun Myeong had sworn to avenge his father. Sword in hand, he attempted to leave the sect—
Only to be thoroughly beaten by Calamity Star, who had come under the pretext of offering condolences.
He had not even managed to leave Yicheon Mountain before returning meekly to the sect.
“It is not only I. There are many more heroes who would stake their lives to kill the Heavenly Demon—”
“In this era, what truly must be killed is not the Heavenly Demon, but the Evil God. Do not think of staking your life to kill the Heavenly Demon. If you must stake your life to kill something, kill the Evil God.”
“I am no priest.”
Gongsun Myeong let out a short sigh and shook his head.
“The Evil God disrupted this world decades ago.”
From the so-called Rifts, monsters poured forth. Possessors crossed over. Fanatics who worshiped the Evil God ran rampant.
“But that is all. Is it not the righteous gods’ duty to slay an evil god? By now, even Possessors are not beings to be unconditionally opposed. As a human, I believe it wiser not to thrust my head into the quarrels of gods, but to kill the Heavenly Demon before he ascends to divinity.”
Of course, Gongsun Myeong understood the danger posed by cultists who served the Evil God. As Sect Leader, he remained vigilant that such forces did not take root in his territory.
But the existence of the “Evil God” felt distant to him. This world had gods—and religions. Priests borrowed divine power to perform miracles. Yet even so, gods remained distant from humanity.
What of the Heavenly Demon?
He was human.
The Demonic Cult, which worshiped him as a living god, felt far more tangible than the Union’s true divine churches.
If one day the Heavenly Demon truly ascended to godhood as the Demonic Cult desired—
Should they not kill him while he was still human?
“If you truly wish to kill the Heavenly Demon, then unite among yourselves and do so.”
Lorellia smiled faintly and shook her head.
“This Lorellia does not wish to kill the Heavenly Demon together with others.”
Two years ago.
The High Priest of the Order had said that the one closest to Godslaying was the Heavenly Demon.
Lorellia had not been able to deny it.
Rather, she acknowledged it even more deeply than the High Priest.
In this world, the one closest to Godslaying was not Lorellia. Not Tu-seong, not Apex Lucionel, not Hyeonya, not Heavenly Thunder, not the Radiant Dharma King.
Even if one lined up all Supreme Masters, tower masters, and hidden experts—
The one closest to Godslaying would be Heavenly Demon Wi Jinhwa.
If one truly spoke of Godslaying, Lorellia might not even be close.
To achieve Godslaying, one must first ascend to divine rank.
And her faith—now a lingering delusion—held her back from that ascent.
“I understand.”
If he pressed further, conversation might turn into violence.
“Before I go, at least hear a greeting.”
As Gongsun Myeong took a step back, Lorellia lightly stomped the ground.
—Boom!
The shock transmitted through the earth struck the solar plexus of the three unconscious figures precisely.
“Guh—!”
Yuri sprang upright.
His fully opened Sixth Rank senses allowed him to recover instantly even from a sudden attack.
That was, so far, the only advantage he had tangibly felt.
Ascending from Fifth Rank to Sixth did not mean he was beaten any less by Lorellia.
Rather, because his rank had risen, he could at least attempt resistance—and because his body had toughened, he was beaten more often and more painfully than Haryeong and Estor.
“Urgh…”
“Ghk…”
Haryeong and Estor regained consciousness shortly after Yuri.
One day since arriving at Pointed Sword Valley.
Yesterday, they had shared provisions stored in subspace.
Then, sparring had begun under the excuse of aiding digestion.
Half of what they ate had been vomited out.
The sparring continued until they collapsed unconscious—and unconsciousness turned to sleep.
They woke in the morning—and were beaten again.
Their memories ended there.
Now they had regained consciousness.
“I wish to die.”
Assassins often hid poison pellets inside their molars before dangerous missions.
Haryeong regretted not preparing such a measure.
Even during her childhood in the Tang Clan—or her early days of assassin training—she had never felt this terrified and exhausted.
“I am enjoying this. I am enjoying this. I am enjoying this so very much…”
Estor muttered self-suggestions.
This was a blessing.
An opportunity any martial artist would desire.
If he overcame this trial, he would unquestionably grow stronger.
If such hardship did not make him stronger, then the world would be absurdly unjust.
Even optimistic Estor needed such self-hypnosis to endure.
“……”
Yuri endured the best.
Not merely because he had previously endured Lorellia’s merciless beatings.
The violence in the grand hall had not been as vividly painful as this.
Now he felt something more keenly than the other two.
Each time he was struck, he adapted slightly.
His still-unfamiliar Sixth Rank senses were being optimized through combat with Lorellia.
“…Who are you?”
Yuri steadied his swaying body and stared directly at Gongsun Myeong.
“Hoh.”
His face was crusted with dried blood. His swollen eyes were almost comical to behold.
But his gaze was deep—his eyes sharp.
*Is this the Cloud Dragon?*
Though political matters and symbolic complications had prevented Gongsun Myeong from being formally titled among the Supreme Masters, Baekgeom Gongsun Myeong was the swordsman closest to that rank.
And he was Sect Leader of Yicheon Sword Sect.
The sect was one of the great sword sects under the Orthodox Heaven Alliance. Beneath him stood over a thousand disciples, each at least of prodigious talent.
*His level is different.*
Rumor said Cloud Dragon was Fifth Rank, like Sword Dragon and Dark Flower.
But Gongsun Myeong did not feel so.
Cloud Dragon had already surpassed Fifth Rank.
Sixth Rank at twenty-two?
Unprecedented.
Among the third-generation disciples of similar age, the average rank was Fourth. Across the entire sect, none had reached even Fifth at that age—much less Sixth.
“I am Gongsun Myeong, Sect Leader of Yicheon Sword Sect.”
Though admiration lingered in his gaze, he introduced himself.
“Ah…! It is an honor to meet Sect Leader.”
The Sect Leader Yuri knew from the game had been the previous one—Nine-Heavens Wall-Splitting Sword Gongsun Jeolhu.
But he knew what martial art the Yicheon Sect Leader used.
In the game, Gongsun Jeolhu had been a master of Sword Control—wielding dozens of blades simultaneously.
*Sword Control…*
A representative art of Intent-infused swordsmanship.
Yuri swallowed.
He had never encountered a true master of Sword Control before.
He wanted to experience it.
[Lorellia.]
Manipulating external force imbued with Intent had always fascinated Yuri. He had experimented with it at the Orsia estate but never succeeded properly.
[If we remain at Yicheon Mountain, may I receive a lesson from the Sect Leader someday?]
Lorellia’s face brightened at the transmission.
She glanced at Yuri with proud approval, then nodded broadly.
“A splendid idea!”
She smiled brightly.
“Since this is fate, Gongsun Myeong! Why not instruct Yuri in a lesson right now?”
“W-why must I?”
He looked flustered.
To instruct an outsider who was not even his disciple?
[Not now.]
Yuri hurriedly added—but Lorellia ignored him.
“This Lorellia also wishes to see your sword after so long!”
Before Gongsun Myeong could answer, she clenched her fist.
“Seeing such an outstanding junior has stirred my spirits as well.”
Gongsun Myeong did not protest further.
