Chapter 21 …
Invincible Sword Spirit (21) – Misunderstanding
Everyone fell silent at Geomryeong’s words.
He simply moved his hand to grab the shoulder. That was all. It was an action so simple that calling it martial arts felt almost embarrassing.
“Isn’t it because of that man’s sorcery that I couldn’t move?”
Yido-gun spoke back without conceding.
“I’ll show you once more.”
Twice, thrice, four times…
No matter how many times he tried, the result was always the same.
Uije-min stood up and approached Yido-gun.
Shaaak!
With a crisp impact, Yido-gun lost his balance and tumbled to the floor.
It had all happened in an instant.
Uije-min’s face was extremely red, a mixture of anger, embarrassment, and regret written all over it.
“Father!”
“Return to your room immediately. We will discuss your mistakes later.”
Uije-min turned to Geomryeong and assumed the po-gwon stance.
In the martial world, a senior adopting the po-gwon stance toward a junior was an extremely rare gesture.
“I apologize. My son has greatly disrespected you. This incident arose from my lack of virtue and improper guidance, so please forgive him for my sake.”
Da-hyeop!
Many are called heroes, but very few truly deserve the title.
Uije-min, head of the Shin Chang-ui family, was not only one of the hundred top martial artists but also a man truly worthy of the title Da-hyeop.
Geomryeong returned the gesture respectfully.
“Forgiveness? That’s unnecessary. The incident just now is merely a matter of whether one recognizes it or not.”
“I appreciate your words.”
The tense atmosphere that Geomryeong and Yido-gun had created slowly calmed with Uije-min’s apology.
‘So Geomryeong is strong in martial arts as well,’ thought Uiryeong.
Although weaker in martial arts compared to her brothers, she was also a child of a martial family. Having studied martial arts in her own way, Geomryeong appeared nearly perfect to her.
“The room is a mess. Dogi, go with the two of them and help resolve the misunderstanding that happened today.”
“I will, sir.”
As Yidogi escorted Jeokhwamyeong and Geomryeong out of the dining hall, Mrs. Byeok Hye-in and Uiryeong also left to observe the situation.
Only Yido-cheon and Uije-min remained.
“Docheon, how did you let Dogun behave like that?”
The blame fell unfairly on the eldest, Docheon.
“I apologize, Father!”
“From now on, don’t just leave it to the servants. Take care of Dogun yourself, and ensure he continues his martial training as well.”
“I will, Father… but…”
Docheon hesitated.
“What is it?”
“It’s about the technique Geomryeong used.”
“I see.”
“Was it really sorcery? It didn’t seem like it to me, but Dogun is skilled enough that he shouldn’t have been unable to avoid such a slow-moving hand.”
Uije-min nodded.
“It’s not sorcery—it’s more like a sense of discomfort or intimidation.”
“Discomfort?”
“Everyone has an aura, a presence. For royalty, it’s their grace and dignity…”
Listening carefully, Docheon nodded.
“Thus, it’s entirely separate from martial arts.”
“But isn’t it strange that he couldn’t avoid it?”
“The point is, there was no killing intent in that hand. If there had been, Dogun would have sensed the danger and avoided it.”
Docheon considered that possibility.
“So Geomryeong’s status isn’t ordinary, then.”
“Yes. That is something innate, related to his bloodline. Being raised by grandparents implies that he had several teachers. Since there’s no trace of learned martial arts, he is likely the son of a high-ranking official. Therefore…”
From a few exchanges with Geomryeong, Uije-min speculated quietly.
“While Geomryeong stays at the main residence, you must ensure Dogun doesn’t make mistakes in front of him.”
“I will. Dogun will also have learned a lot from this experience.”
“Yes. I hope so.”
Waaah!
Yido-gun returned to his room and vented his anger on the furniture. The room was soon in complete disarray.
“What did I do wrong… That man used sorcery! Why—argh!”
Boom!
He overturned furniture to release his frustration.
Outside, the servants looked anxious. Once Yido-gun’s anger subsided, they would have to enter and clean the chaotic room.
“Father too… Why take his side instead of mine!”
Judging by the sounds from inside, it seemed Yido-gun would need some time to calm down.
At that moment, someone walked down the corridor—none other than Hyun Jin-myeong, the second son of Cheonmyeong Mountain Villa.
The servants tried to inform him, but he stopped them and quietly listened to Yido-gun’s outburst from outside.
A faint smile appeared on Hyun Jin-myeong’s lips, unnoticed by the servants.
Shin Chang-ui and Cheonmyeong Mountain Villa were the leading martial sects in Guangdong, though locals held Shin Chang-ui in slightly higher regard. On the surface, they appeared friendly, but a subtle rivalry existed beneath.
“Why must I alone be at fault!”
Crash! Bang!
Hearing the destruction inside, Hyun Jin-myeong quietly told the servants, “Announce my arrival.”
“Yes!”
One servant approached the room.
“Master Dogun! Master Hyun Jin-myeong of Cheonmyeong Mountain Villa has arrived.”
Harsh breathing came from inside; Yido-gun was trying to calm himself. After a while, the door opened, and Yidogi stepped out, looking neat despite the earlier chaos.
“You clean the room. You, come with me for a drink.”
“At this hour?”
“Morning, evening—what difference does it make? If you don’t release your frustration now, you’ll go mad. Come with me.”
Yido-gun took Hyun Jin-myeong outside.
They sat at the inn and ordered drinks. Yido-gun drank, while Hyun Jin-myeong simply observed him.
“How can Father trust an outsider over his own son?”
“Perhaps you misunderstand. Surely Father could tell if it were sorcery or not.”
“He definitely used sorcery! Otherwise, how could I fail to dodge that movement?”
He emptied his glass in one gulp, frustration etched on his face.
“Not quite. But if Father couldn’t tell, then that man must be a greater master than him.”
Hyun Jin-myeong refilled his glass.
“Impossible.”
“I think so too. For now, we should trust Father’s judgment. Or maybe he used some strange technique?”
“Strange technique?”
“Yes. There’s no rule that he must use sorcery. Look at him—does he not appear more like a girl than a martial artist?”
“True.”
“Surely he employed a formation.”
“A formation? But I didn’t see him set one up.”
“A simple one could be deployed instantly. He might be highly skilled in formations. Think about it.”
Considering it, it made sense.
“Yes… before he acted…”
The thought seemed true. He finished his drink and wiped his mouth with his sleeve.
“Now that I understand, I won’t be easily fooled next time. Let’s calm down and plan how to regain the humiliation he caused.”
“Yes… if he indeed used a formation…”
Meanwhile…
“Is it true?”
Gae Geol-gae, the Hong Kong branch master of Gaebang, rushed to the Gwangju branch to report urgent news.
He informed Ju-dong Yu-dong, head of the Gwangju branch.
“The Fulsan Fortress has been wiped out.”
Despite being a Noklim (Green Forest) faction without masters, the fortress housed top-tier warriors like Geo-byeok. Beneath them were hundreds of first- and second-tier Noklim members—all killed silently, their corpses left for crows and wild animals.
“Not just one or two, but a hundred…”
This was extraordinary news. Fulsan Fortress, one of the twenty-four Noklim strongholds in Guangdong, managing numerous smaller factions, had been annihilated. This would not go unnoticed.
“What brought you to Fulsan Fortress?”
Gae Geol-gae explained, including events at Wangak Fortress and why he went to Fulsan.
“So, you’re saying Wolyeong Seonja did this?”
“That’s unlikely. She returned to Wolyeong Sect with the daughter of the Jiangnan ruler, Jin Seol. I suspect this was the work of whoever destroyed Wangak Fortress.”
If not Wolyeong Seonja, the likelihood of another culprit was high.
“Black Tiger Faction, Wangak Fortress, Fulsan Fortress… all thieves, taking others’ victims.”
Their eyes met.
“Could it be a reckless martial youth?”
“Unlikely. No novice could defeat a master like Geo-byeok.”
“Then perhaps… a demon.”
They both fell silent.
Demon!
Beings who had abandoned humanity, mastering immoral martial arts, turning them inhuman.
When demons appeared, righteous, sect, and black faction masters combined forces to eliminate them. Many demons fled or hid.
But thirty years ago, Manmajon Samyeong-ok appeared, gathering demons openly. Declaring himself a demon, he ravaged the martial world, causing countless deaths.
Even the hundred top martial artists could barely repel him and his followers.
After thirty years, for demons to appear again…
“No, it can’t be,” Gae Geol-gae said.
Yu-dong remained solemn, contemplating the implications.
“Return to Hong Kong. Check if anything unusual has happened in recent years.”
“Could it really be demons?”
“I don’t know either. I don’t want to believe it, but we must investigate. I will inform all Guangdong branches and report to headquarters.”
“Yes, sir.”
Gae Geol-gae bowed and left for Hong Kong.
Yu-dong’s expression remained dark.
“No… they crossed the Gobi Desert thirty years ago…”
