The Youngcheon Sword Demon, Baek Seo-goon, hailed from Shinya County, Hanam Province.
He had worked as a disciple of the Jeong family, a martial arts family of notable renown.
His treatment was not bad.
Having lost his parents early, he was taken in by the Jeong family, where both the family head and his wife took pity on him.
Baek Seo-goon came to serve as the personal attendant to the Jeong family’s eldest son, a boy born ten years after her.
Her young lord, known more often by the nickname Ban-ak than his proper name, Jeong Dae-myeong, had been a handsome young noble from an early age. His hands were large, and he was generous in his use of silver.
Jeong Dae-myeong, or Jeong Ban-ak, the young lord, was a figure who had established relationships with many women. Baek Seo-goon played a part in facilitating those connections.
She was entrusted with delivering his love letters to the ladies of neighboring villages and bringing back their replies.
The rewards for these services were always generous, often in the form of ample pocket money, all paid in silver.
Though Baek Seo-goon was exceptionally beautiful, Jeong Dae-myeong never saw her as anything more than a servant.
He treated her like a young nanny. That, for Baek Seo-goon, was enough.
Occasionally, she would receive letters of rejection that upset the young lord. Despite that, she was always rewarded with pocket money.
Jeong Dae-myeong was a strange figure, even as a child. He had a peculiar superstition that bordered on obsession.
One of the beliefs he held as a future ruler was that it was bad luck to command people without giving them something in return.
There were few servants who disliked the young lord.
When it came to the letters, there were very few times that he would even care to monitor his own servants. His remarkable looks and the noble air he carried made it unnecessary to.
Jeong Dae-myeong's facial features were unrealistically perfect.
He once jokingly claimed that he would someday seduce the women of Ipwang Fortress, but none of his friends or servants dismissed it as idle talk.
He was only thirteen at the time, but he had already possessed both status and appearance.
Baek Seo-goon had never been envious of him.
Read latest chapters at freёweɓnovel.com Only.
By that time, Baek Seo-goon had secretly been learning martial arts on her own.
She had been training for ten years. The Jeong family was a second-rate martial arts family, but she found no traces of new power in their teachings.
She had spent her time searching for an ancient secret technique. It was a rare opportunity that she would not likely encounter again in her lifetime.
She had found it after falling into a ravine formed by strange beings during the end of the Yuan dynasty.
In a cave, she stood before the body of a renowned martial artist, and a book lay open beside the corpse.
The body and the technique had not decayed. It was a strange, mystical realm.
As she made eye contact with the martial artist’s dead gaze, energy surged into her lower abdomen.
It felt as if the sun itself had filled her being, an inexplicable sensation that filled her core.
“I am destined to soar through the world.”
She had encountered the mysterious. It could only be seen as fate.
She was not meant to die in Shinya County. Her life had been set for the martial world.
—Here, I will train my power and dedicate myself to the Daebang Sect.
She had made this vow. After that, her personality became more vibrant.
She and the young lord, Jeong Dae-myeong, had grown close. A ten-year-old nobleman had even begun teaching her Go.
It was around that time that she learned of the crisis strategy.
“Doesn’t the saying about the opportunistic move contradict itself? You should take the initiative, but not greedily overstep, right?”
“Foolish. How does that contradict? The idea is to loosen your shoulders and take the initiative. Even if you let go of a few stones, don’t act hastily.”
It was valuable advice. Baek Seo-goon thought that if the young lord ever had children, they would be well-raised.
Baek Seo-goon continued her secret martial training, but she never neglected the young lord.
Even when she secretly left the Jeong family and left for Ipwang Fortress, she did not forget him.
“Thank you for raising me.”
At the vast manor, she made her oath as she entered her advanced training in the Palhwan Shin Gong, reaching the fourth level.
She had cultivated her inner strength with extraordinary talent. By the time she reached Shinya County, she believed there were no martial artists who could match her.
Her thoughts had been right.
Her martial skills were renowned, and no vagabond would be able to withstand them.
By the time she encountered Simmuryun’s top martial masters, her Palhwan Shin Gong had reached the sixth stage.
She tried to ally with every faction, offering her skills in exchange for support, but she ultimately joined the Simmuryun sect, receiving backing from the infamous Bandit King.
Despite its lowly origins, the sect was incredibly rich and influential. She enjoyed the wealth and power for a long time.
She became a monster of the martial world, recognized by all, from the elderly sect leaders to the youngest disciples.
Her success was achieved through a combination of wealth and martial prowess.
One day, news reached her that a rising martial genius had emerged from Ipwang Fortress. It happened alongside the death of a famed swordswoman.
That was when she learned of the fall of the Jeong family. She felt a small pang of regret but also wondered about it.
“The leader of the Bloodblade Guards spared Seom-ye? Was it out of respect for his strength and talent? He isn’t the type to do such a thing. There’s something else he’s after. The collapse of Ipwang Fortress must have been his lifelong goal.”
She thought it would be interesting to meet Jeong Dae-myeong's son, though it was not a large priority.
In some regions, Baek Seo-goon had come to be known as the Sword Master, rather than the Sword Demon.
Her life, far removed from the lowly Jeong family, had already transcended the world of third-rate martial arts.
“That’s what I thought. It’s Ma Gwang-Ik.”
The sight of the invitation to the Martial Alliance Sect's Clan War caught her interest.
She had accepted the invitation, with the aim of relieving her boredom. The ongoing famine had made it difficult for even the Daebang Sect, which received support from the Bandit King, to maintain control.
To maintain their martial forces, it was easier to obtain supplies from outside the region.
The raid in the central plains had originated from Seom-ye.
“I wonder how much our young lord knows about the Bloodblade Guard’s leader.”
Baek Seo-goon smiled as she looked over the ravine.
Her face was marked with a smile as deep as her inner strength. Her white hair, flowing like a lion’s mane, added to her formidable appearance.
She was a towering figure, seemingly ageless, her face untouched by time.
Her martial skills, like her strength, were the pinnacle of martial mastery.
Whoosh.
She stood upon the rugged cliffs of the Seven Traps, the wind rushing against her.
The jagged stone peaks filled her view, their sharp tips cutting the sky.
She thought back to her early days, playing Go with the young lord, before she had come to this place.
The reason she had come was unclear. Perhaps it was because of the memories of Shinya County, the rare opportunity she had found there.
At my age, it is said that the Sangdanjeon can touch the heavens.
Maybe my destiny was already written for me.
She stepped forward, casually brushing off any uncertainty.
A martial artist of her caliber was not bound by the common world.
Those trapped in Ipwang Fortress were foolish. The idea of a faction, a sect, constraining her was laughable.
“I'm curious about the Mu Wei. Surely, you didn't learn the second-rate martial arts of the Jeong family?”
She was a true force in the martial world.
Her lone voice echoed as she spoke to herself, no one daring to contradict her.
Baek Seo-goon had lived a life where she could speak her thoughts without anyone daring to oppose her. She walked while murmuring to herself.
As she walked, she noticed a group in the distance. They were surrounded by her subordinates at the edge of the Seven Traps.
She could feel the intense aura of strong yang energy and refined killing intent. It was a sensation no one could ignore, especially in the presence of a sword demon, a Sword Master.
Soon, unfamiliar voices reached her ears.
“These guys think they own the Central Plains? Didn’t expect to get caught this easily.”
A man with a powerful aura spoke, managing to handle seven warriors on his own.
His hands were enveloped in blazing, intangible heat as he drew his sword, and no one could even manage to counter his strikes.
This was Huangbo Se-ga's Tae Yeom-ryong, known for his incredible talent and short lifespan.
It seemed he was following intelligence that stated he was moving with Seomye Jung Yeon-shin.
There was also someone delivering strange sword strikes, as if they had learned the famous sword techniques of the Great General Jeong Jong.
Unlike the agile movements of his guards, his expression beneath his brow was calm, his eyes appearing unusually quiet.
Baek Seo-goon found it interesting.
“Now I see, the treasure chests have come to us.”
She was captivated by the sight of a young girl weaving through the ravine, wielding her sword with the utmost skill.
Her hair, flowing like ebony, was a reflection of her incredible swordsmanship, matching Baek Seo-goon’s own beauty.
"Interesting. Even the sword of the man who calls himself the Sun-Shooting Sword."
Baek Seo-goon chuckled to herself. The other two weren't too bad either. Gongsun Min and Mo Yong-myeongjun seemed to be weak in comparison.
Her grey robe rustled loudly as she moved swiftly, her foot taking a step three paces ahead in an instant.
To the unknowing onlookers, it might have looked like she was using a teleportation technique.
With a single movement, she drew her sword and tossed it.
Crash!
The air was torn apart with the sound of her sword cutting through the space above their heads, leaving a brilliant, shining trail in the air.
The sword's arc faded in white light. It truly looked like the phrase "Flying in the heavens" was a perfect description. As a Sword Demon, her skill was unparalleled.
Baek Seo-goon gathered her index and middle fingers, a well-known technique called Sword Formula Fingers.
As her two fingers stretched out like daggers, waves of energy rippled from her sword handle above, filling the air with an overwhelming presence.
The immense force seemed capable of crushing even the wind itself.
“Sword Master!”
“Sword Master? The Youngcheon Sword Demon...!”
Shock and awe filled the air.
Baek Seo-goon’s strike descended effortlessly.
The wave of energy from her sword shattered and unraveled all the martial arts in the vicinity.
A powerful wind, stronger than the ravine’s gusts, swirled around them. It was an attack so powerful that it couldn’t be comprehended by ordinary logic.
She was a master beyond masters.
An existence that could look down on all warriors from a higher realm.
Her martial arts reached a level where she could claim dominion over the world. In this moment, facing the black-clad forces of Ipwang Fortress, she could assert her will freely.
A martial artist who was no longer bound by the oppressive rule of Huangli Sect. She looked at the warriors in front of her as if they were merely pawns.
The gaze she gave them made Gongsun Min and Mo Yong-myeongjun flinch.
A slight smirk appeared on her face—a cynical, almost bored laugh.
“Follow me. I won’t kill you for now, as long as you entertain me. While you eat and drink, try to figure out your martial arts. When the amusement dies down, I’ll cut your necks.”
“You think you own the martial world? If you don’t follow, you’ll end up fighting us along with these soldiers!”
Tae Yeom-ryong remained calm. Perhaps it was because he had accepted his fate to die early. His posture, as if savoring the situation, made him seem relaxed.
“You’ll listen to a young lord’s scolding again, calling you useless.”
“The young lord, you mean Seomye Jung Yeon-shin?”
Baek Seo-goon asked without turning back.
With each step she took, the encirclement of her group shifted. Tae Yeom-ryong’s group had to follow her pace.
“That's right. Don’t even think about any foolish plans.”
“Foolish plans?”
“If you think you can hold us hostage to use against the young lord, I’ll kill everyone here and then take my own life. After all, I’m the heir of the top family in Shandong. I have my pride.”
Tae Yeom-ryong spoke softly. The man beside him, Hyeon Won-chang, muttered something about insubordination.
Baek Seo-goon smiled mockingly but refrained from making any moves for the next two days.
As a martial master of the Daebang Sect, she had long enjoyed the luxury and ease of her life. But now, she focused on filling the emptiness that had been growing inside her.
It was the same feeling she had when she left the Jeong family and set out for a new world.
She imprisoned them in one of the largest tents of the stronghold in the Seven Traps.
She let them out one by one whenever she felt like it, treating them like prey, using their martial arts as entertainment.
She applied pressure, as if they were animals trapped in a cage. When Tae Yeom-ryong received a small burn from her fiery energy, she laughed instead.
“No matter how I look at it, I still can’t believe this. How could the Jeong family bloodline have produced someone like you?”
“You’ll understand once you see it.”
Tae Yeom-ryong lazily responded.
And then—
Boom!
A tremendous sound echoed.
An overwhelming surge of energy rose from beyond the peak, an almost divine presence.
Baek Seo-goon’s eyes suddenly sharpened.
It was a mystical aura, reminiscent of the energy given by the martial arts master who left behind the Palhwan Shin Gong in that cave long ago.
“Ah, truly, this is a story worth hearing.”
"Is that Ma Gwang-Ikju?"
Seomye asked with a sly smile as she mumbled to herself.
"Can't you tell by just sensing it?"
"Let's go see."
A large movement ensued. The martial forces of the Simmuryun, who had been fortifying their position, began to move.
The first to vanish from this place was the Sword Master, Baek Seo-goon, who was known as the "Sword Emperor." Tae Yeom-ryong, along with Hyeon Won-chang and the martial men of the alliance, followed her.
Thanks to Baek Seo-goon’s eccentricity, movement had been free from the beginning. No one stood in their way.
It was a short distance. Tae Yeom-ryong, following Baek Seo-goon, ascended to the source of the loud noise.
There, in front of him, stood the young lord, facing off against a woman dressed in a brilliant scarlet martial robe.
How long had they been running? His disheveled hair revealed his perfectly shaped forehead.
The dark black hair of the young Ma Gwang-Ik, now the successor of Ma Gwang-Ikju, harmonized perfectly with his black robes.
Seomye Jung Yeon-shin, who had been silently watching Baek Seo-goon, shifted her gaze. Her eyes met Tae Yeom-ryong's as he stood behind her.
"You useless fool."
The young man spoke up abruptly. Tae Yeom-ryong sighed.
"I have no words for you."
"Exactly."
Then, the small sword was drawn. With a swift, almost flying movement, it stopped as it met Seomye's eyes.
The Simmuryun's martial men encircled the area, and she parted her lips to speak.
"If I become a hindrance, I'll take my own life."
The small sword’s wielder, Choi So-geum, was no ordinary person. A promising swordsman from the Jomang Sect, he valued honor more than his life.
He had the martial dignity of the White Blade, a revered name among the strong men of the martial world. He was a man whose character aligned with the martial spirit of his time.
"I know the meaning of shame," he continued. "Though it's joyous to witness the fates of the young lord and the ancient monster..."
He spoke with a sharp face, discussing honor and reputation. Seomye slowly nodded.
"I will take revenge."
"Those words are quite rare coming from you. I’m rather pleased," Choi So-geum smiled faintly.
At that moment, Baek Seo-goon suddenly interjected.
"Don’t tell me you’ve learned the Jeongjong Divine Sword technique? I can tell this is a level beyond what could be achieved with mere crude swordplay."
Baek Seo-goon asked suddenly, her eyes narrowing as she stared at Seomye for a long time.
"Jeongjong Divine Sword?"
The young man’s brows furrowed slightly. It had been a long time since he had heard that name. The swordplay of Jeongga-jang.
It was said that his grandfather had taught him the swordplay from the Jeongnam Sect, a technique he had refined as an apprentice. The technique, though grandly named, was nothing more than a third-rate sword style.
"Do you know Jeongga-jang?"
"Your lower stance is irritating. How arrogant. I’ll need to test your qualifications."
Baek Seo-goon raised her sword fingers with a sharp motion. Her index and middle fingers came together and swiped at the sword handle at her waist.
Simultaneously, the sword rose on its own, emitting a white light, resembling the technique of the famed martial masters in the swordsmanship world.
By this time, Seomye had already raised the Beomyeong Sword above his head.
Swoosh.
The black fabric of the sword's sleeve cascaded below the shoulders. His right arm revealed a tightly honed muscle, extending from the back of his hand to his biceps.
The sword vibrated with a sound as if it was crying out. With its perfectly straight angle, it merged seamlessly with Seomye’s energy.
This was the Upper Sword Style.
A calm, meditative position—yet it sent chills down the spine.
‘What is this?’
Tae Yeom-ryong's eyes widened slightly, a rare reaction from him.
Suddenly, the sword of the young Ma Gwang-Ik, held by his hands, emitted an intangible wave of force.
The density was overwhelming. Even though it was invisible, the semi-transparent wind seemed to whirl through the hall.
Baek Seo-goon’s sword, which had been advancing through the air, came to an abrupt halt. It was as if the skill of a master had momentarily been suspended.
It was evident that this was not voluntary. The pressure surrounding them was immense.
Anyone with shallow martial knowledge would have knelt before even attempting to parry a single move.
In that moment, without any warning:
Whoosh!
The movements of the boy and Baek Seo-goon intersected. In an instant, their positions were reversed.
Treading at the highest speed, Ma Gwang-Ik lowered his sword in one smooth motion. A brilliant white sword path shimmered faintly behind him.
A long trail of energy arced across the room as Baek Seo-goon, too, found herself holding a sword once more.
The exchange between these two high-level martial artists had happened too quickly for the Simmuryun’s martial men to even react.
It appeared neither had sustained any fatal injuries, but there had been a visible change in Baek Seo-goon’s appearance.
Her iconic half-white hair, symbolizing her mastery, cascaded down. Her long hair, once like a lion’s mane, now fluttered like feathers.
The relentless wind of the ravine mingled with the setting sun’s light, creating a surreal atmosphere.
Ma Gwang-Ik lowered his sword, taking a moment to glance at the swirling hair. He tilted his head slightly and then spoke:
"Short hair suits you."