Part 1

Chapter 8. Yeon-ah

The girl’s body rose into the air. She applied weight to her sword and pressed Tang Min’s throwing dart down.

“You’re so thin, but you’re strong, surprisingly.”

Tang Min didn’t budge, and perhaps frustrated, the girl leaped back.

The girl, wearing torn clothes, appeared to be about fifteen. She held a sword that was too large for her. It was so long that if she stood it beside her, it would reach up to her chest, as though it belonged to someone else.

No, perhaps it was a sword someone had discarded.

The sword was shabby at a glance. There were chipped areas, and the part where the handle met the blade seemed rusted with what looked like dried blood.

A shabby appearance and an old sword. But in contrast to her ragged exterior, the girl’s eyes shone brighter than any jewel.

The girl lowered her sword near her waist and regained her stance.

“Tch. You’ve got strength, but no manners. To welcome a guest like this.”

“Anyone who comes holding something that harms people can’t be a guest.”

“Oh, you can even tell the smell of poison?”

Tang Min’s eyes sparkled.

“Definitely, you’re one of the children raised by the Yeonju Group.”

The added words were meant for So-hwa. It was clear that Tang Min knew the girl in front of them was one of the Yeonju Group’s children.

A declaration that he would cross swords with this child even if she tried to stop him.

Perhaps having traveled the Murim for a long time, Tang Min had a good eye. It seemed he was interested in the potential of a child who would one day become one of the Heavenly Ten Swords.

So-hwa bit her lip as her head throbbed.

‘I need to win Yeon-ah’s favor…’

She worried that this might turn her into Yeon-ah’s enemy. As she was pondering how to stop the fight, the two of them, young and old, fought like wild beasts, swinging their swords and blocking with darts.

Clang, clang. Clang. Boom!

“Come on, try harder!”

“Ugh!”

One was frustrated and didn’t know what to do, while the other seemed to enjoy the reaction.

Tang Hak gently tugged at So-hwa’s sleeve.

“S-Sister. Shouldn’t we stop this? If this goes on, Grand Elder will…”

So-hwa’s eyes slid over to Tang Hak.

“… Do you think you can stop it?”

Tang Hak clamped his mouth shut.

Tang Min was strong and relentless.

He was someone essential for their journey to the Yeonju Group, someone who could overturn the Tang Clan’s orders, but he had this flaw.

Once he went out of control, no one could stop him.

Tang Min moved around like he was playing with a puppy, taunting Yeon-ah.

“Heh, not that way, child.”

Yeon-ah rushed toward him with all her might, but the small dagger, no bigger than her palm, kept twisting in her hands. Moreover, the shock from her hands was too much for her to properly swing the sword.

“Ugh!”

As if it exploded, Yeon-ah raised the sword high.

But just when she was about to bring the sword down in an instant, Yeon-ah twisted the blade and drove it into his side the moment Tang Min tried to meet her with his dart.

“Oh.”

Tang Min lightly admired her and stepped aside, allowing Yeon-ah to move her sword freely.

Yeon-ah swung the sword wildly, drawing a clear arc in the air.

She didn’t even realize that this was exactly what her opponent wanted.

In that instant, Tang Min’s figure disappeared.

“Ugh!”

Tang Min appeared behind Yeon-ah and muttered to himself.

“But… that looks like a stance I’ve seen before.”

Yeon-ah immediately spun around and swung her sword down, but Tang Min’s figure had already vanished. Flustered, Yeon-ah frowned and searched for him.

At that moment, Tang Min’s figure appeared once again in front of her.

“Ha! Coward!”

“Hm? First time I’ve heard someone say my techniques are cowardly. Haven’t you learned techniques yet?”

Yeon-ah swung her sword as she charged, but Tang Min lightly threw a dart, blocking her blade.

Boom.

The dart collided with her sword, making a tremendous noise as it stuck to the blade. The sound was so intense that it felt as if there was a great force behind it.

Tang Hak, clutching his shoulders, trembled.

“Ugh. That really hurts. The shock is massive. Feels like my wrist is breaking and my insides are bursting. But that young lady… she’s holding up well. Her wrists are thin, and she’s so frail.”

To So-hwa, it didn’t look that way. Yeon-ah was clearly struggling with the pain.

Yeon-ah staggered back, lowering her stance and using her sword to guard her chest. She looked as if even standing was a challenge. The girl’s arms were trembling faintly.

Tang Min waited patiently for her to regain her composure. However, when Yeon-ah straightened her back and tried to raise her stance, Tang Min threw another dart.

Flustered, Yeon-ah quickly moved her sword to block the darts flying at her from all directions.

Clang. Clang. Clang.

The short, swift sword strikes blocked all of Tang Min’s darts. When Tang Min saw this, his face grew cold.

The darts, which had been circling Yeon-ah like a playful game, suddenly rushed at her all at once. But just as they were about to pierce her skin, they froze in mid-air. The sharp metal hovered in the air, imprisoning Yeon-ah’s every movement like a cage.

A heavy silence filled the air.

The sound of Tang Min’s footsteps, walking lightly, rang out loudly.

Tap.

“You.”

Tang Min stopped a step in front of Yeon-ah and asked in a cold voice.

“Did you learn the sword techniques of Kunlun?”

***

So-hwa froze at the mention of Kunlun.

Kunlun was a Taoist sect located in Qinghai, to the northwest of Sichuan, famous for its mystical sword techniques. However, at the mention of Kunlun, So-hwa thought of something else.

In her previous life, it was the first orthodox sect to be destroyed by the Demonic Sect.

Thanks to the sect located on Kunlun Mountain, the Demonic Sect’s strength had been greatly weakened, but in the end, they disappeared at the hands of the Demonic Sect.

How does Yeon-ah know about Kunlun?

As she pondered this, the scene before her suddenly flashed.

Boom.

Yeon-ah clutched her wrist, and the sword had flown far behind her.

Tang Min spoke sharply, his voice devoid of any amusement.

“You shouldn’t be showing off stolen sword techniques from another sect. Unless, of course, you want to watch the one who taught you die.”

Yeon-ah retorted coldly.

“No one taught me swordsmanship.”

“Then?”

The girl frowned at Tang Min with a confused look. After a moment, Yeon-ah asked.

“… Isn’t that something anyone could replicate without needing to be taught?”

Her voice sounded rather dismissive.

In that instant, heavy silence descended. Those who couldn’t perform such a feat fell silent.

Yeon-ah stared directly at Tang Min, her face showing genuine confusion. Tang Min, meeting her gaze, tilted his head slightly.

“… You taught yourself?”

“I’ve seen other people’s swordplay, but I’ve never been formally taught, so it’s not a lie.”

“Hahahaha.”

Suddenly, Tang Min burst into laughter.

Seeing Tang Min laughing so heartily, Tang Hak tapped So-hwa’s shoulder. His voice, filled with fear, tickled her eardrums.

“Sister, it… it seems like the Grand Elder is enjoying himself.”

So-hwa pressed her fingers to her temples.

This was maddening. Tang Min was showing an interest unlike before. It seemed like he had recognized Yeon-ah’s potential for certain.

Tang Min would sometimes invite martial artists who caught his eye to the training grounds and attack them outright. He probably thought he was teaching them a lesson, but it wasn’t without reason that the martial artists of the Tang Clan distanced themselves from him.

For any martial artist, learning from a master was considered the greatest honor of their life, but there were no such martial artists in the Tang Clan.

This was not the fault of the Tang Clan but of Tang Min.

After exchanging blows with Tang Min, one would have to spend at least ten days recovering in the Medical Hall.

Tap.

Tang Min wiped the smile from his face and moved toward a tree at a distance. He kicked the sword that had been at his feet.

“Listen.”

As soon as Yeon-ah gripped her sword, she lunged at Tang Min.

Bang! Crash!

The sound of the sword clashing with the dart resonated, echoing in the ears. In an instant, more than ten exchanges took place. Yeon-ah’s expression began to twist as she blocked the darts. The darts were charged with internal energy so intense that they glowed a violet hue, indicating how serious Tang Min was.

“Ugh!”

Finally, Yeon-ah spat blood.

Tang Hak, shocked, took a step forward.

“M-My goodness! You’re using your full strength against that small, slender girl!”

Tang Min didn’t hold back against any opponent, no matter who they were. It might have seemed like he was holding back, but anyone on the receiving end didn’t feel that way at all.

Even now, a renowned martial artist in the world made a fifteen-year-old girl vomit blood.

How is this ‘holding back’?

Perhaps it was fortunate that this commotion had occurred at the Yeonju Group’s place. With the Divine Physician’s medical skills, she could be quickly healed… No, why am I even worrying about this?

So-hwa pressed down on the irritation rising in her chest.

Oblivious to the situation, Tang Min continued to taunt Yeon-ah.

“By the way, where did you meet the disciple of Kunlun? Did they visit the group, or was it an ambush?”

“I don’t remember. I don’t even know if he’s a Kunlun disciple.”

Tang Min narrowed one eye.

“… But hey, your speech is short. Did your parents, or your guardians, teach you to speak like that?”

“There is no need for courtesy with those who harm others.”

“Oh, really? Did you learn that? Ah, right, you said no one taught you.”

Tang Min smirked and stepped back. Then, surprisingly, he lowered his hand.

“Well, it’s commendable that you’ve trained this much on your own, or that you’re trying to protect the one who taught you. Out of my generosity, I’ll pretend this never happened. Now, guide me. I need to meet your Divine Physician or your guardian right away.”

Yeon-ah responded with a faint laugh.

“Generosity, my foot.”

She gripped her sword tightly again, but unlike before, she didn’t rush at Tang Min. She seemed to have sensed his overwhelming strength.

“You can’t be a guest.”

Tang Min smirked and tilted his head.

“Huh? Then how do you plan to stop me?”

Yeon-ah glared at Tang Min with determined eyes.

“No, no, don’t glare at me. I’m asking because I’m really curious. How do you plan to stop me?”

“If I have enough time, I can stop you.”

Tang Min widened his eyes and scratched his cheek.

“Well, I look like a young, innocent youth, but I’ve lived longer and have solid internal energy and stamina. If we keep fighting for long, you’ll end up a wreck, won’t you?”

Yeon-ah showed no change in expression when she heard Tang Min describe himself as a “young, innocent youth,” except for a brief furrow of her brows.

Yeon-ah, seemingly unwilling to even answer, dashed toward Tang Min in an instant. Tang Min, with a relaxed expression, flicked the small dart in his fingers.

In that moment, Tang Min’s expression twisted.

Yeon-ah, who had been charging toward him with her sword raised to strike, suddenly threw her sword to the ground.

Tang Min hurriedly tried to retrieve the dart.

However, the dart had already reached Yeon-ah’s chest.

Thud.

Yeon-ah stretched out her hand and grabbed the dart. Blood dripped from her torn palm, but she tightened her fingers and adjusted the dart’s direction in her grasp.

At the same time, she sent the blade flying.

Straight toward Tang Min.

Tang Min did not move. However, his face no longer bore the same calm demeanor.

Thud.

When the dart embedded itself in the tree, all sound seemed to vanish.

Only the rustling of the wind and the leaves filled the eerie silence.

Swoosh.

The fresh green leaves swayed and cast shifting shadows across Tang Min’s face.

Everyone stood speechless, unable to utter a word, their eyes fixed on the scene.

… Tang Min’s sleeve was torn.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep