Winter was long.
Perhaps the reason winter felt especially longer than any other season was because the chill seeped into one’s heart, bringing with it an overwhelming sense of loneliness.
For a warrior who was always meant to stand resolute, such sentimental feelings were unnecessary.
When spring came and flowers bloomed, when summer came and greenery covered the world, a warrior’s duty remained one. To hold his sword firmly and protect the Imperial Palace.
However, the human heart changed far too easily.
Even the warriors who had once entered Cheongdo Palace with the pure intention of protecting it would often reveal their ambition as they climbed the ranks and their positions shifted.
Over the decades that General Hwang Soo had served as a general-level officer, the warriors he had observed were mostly the same.
He had scolded countless individuals, sent many back to their hometowns, and personally cut down some with his own blade.
Anyone who had achieved something in life inevitably presented their own existence as though it were a grand chronicle.
The reason they produced results and succeeded was because they had walked a single, unshaken path, free of distractions.
But as their perspective widened and the world began to feel within their grasp, they lost the purity that had once supported them.
And that was why General Hwang Soo respected Grand General Seong Sa Wook.
– People change, General Seong.
Grand General Seong Sa Wook who was now fully old had long lost the strength and power of his prime.
Yet he still sat in a position of widespread respect among the military officers within the palace.
– Many warriors will continue to rise to the rank of general in the future, hoping to protect the Cheongdo Empire, but very few will cling tightly to the purity of their initial resolve.
– You’re right, Soo-ah.
– Even that Seol Lee Moon is no exception. In the end, the depths of a person’s character are revealed the moment they hold power that places all others beneath them.
One winter day, in a quiet pavilion.
General Hwang Soo poured a drink for Grand General Seong Sa Wook and bowed his head.
– If such men ever try to overturn this imperial palace again, I will cut them down, even if it costs me my life.
That solemn and unyielding resolve had not wavered, even with the passage of time.
In terms of loyalty, there was no one in Cheongdo Empire who could surpass General Hwang Soo.
– Even that son of his, Seol Tae Pyeong, will one day succumb to power and reveal the depths of his character.
– ……
– When that time comes, my Blue Snake Sword will not stand idly by.
He conveyed his unwavering loyalty more clearly than anyone else.
Watching him, Grand General Seong Sa Wook seemed as though he might pour him another drink in satisfaction, but instead, he shook his head.
– Enough.
Vice General Seol Tae Pyeong.
A warrior from the White Immortal Palace. He was the one who had even subdued Sun Demonic Spirit Pyeong Ryang, the demonic spirit who had severed one of Seong Sa Wook’s arms.
– I don’t want to lose you.
When Sun Demonic Spirit had ravaged the palace, Hwang Soo had been away on a campaign and had never seen Seol Tae Pyeong’s swordsmanship for himself.
Because of this, Hwang Soo couldn’t help but feel a sense of resistance toward Grand General Seong Sa Wook’s clear trust in Seol Tae Pyeong.
Swoosh!
The mere act of him leaping off the ground made it seem as though it was sorcery was at play.
Seol Tae Pyeong’s swift movement, as he pushed both generals aside and leaped to the front of Taehwa Pavilion where Hwang Soo stood, was beyond what any human strength could imitate.
His movements were like those of a beast, forcing anyone who blinked even once to see a blade flying straight at their face.
Clang!
Hwang Soo blocked Seol Tae Pyeong’s blade and swallowed hard.
The weight of it was one thing, but the speed that accompanied it made him tense.
At a general’s level, such strength was expected, but this opponent had both sharpness and swiftness on his side.
Without losing his composure, Hwang Soo swiftly swung his Blue Snake Sword upward before aiming for Seol Tae Pyeong.
Clang!
The clash of their blades sent a shockwave of sword energy rippling through the area.
The maids screamed in fright, while nearby soldiers clung to the trees for support, struggling to remain standing.
Leaves fell to the ground with a rustling sound.
Seeing Seol Tae Pyeong up close, Hwang Soo couldn’t help but question if this man was truly human.
“Vice General Seol Tae Pyeong. Even if it costs me my life, I cannot allow you to take another step forward.”
“I have no intention of taking the life of the Blue Pillar General either.”
“What?!”
Seol Tae Pyeong crouched low and spun his body, sweeping Hwang Soo’s legs out from under him.
The movement was so fast that Hwang Soo nearly fell, unable to keep up.
However, he quickly shifted his center of gravity to regain balance, then thrust his Blue Snake Sword toward Seol Tae Pyeong’s shoulder in response.
Whoosh!
But Seol Tae Pyeong was no longer there.
He had already widened the distance and was attempting to sheath his sword when Hwang Soo leaped forward, slashing down toward him.
Clang!
Whooosh!
Blocking a single strike was no problem for Seol Tae Pyeong.
However, the moment he parried the sword, his brows furrowed.
Screech!
A sharp, grating sound echoed as the edges of the blades scraped against one another.
The Blue Snake Sword, a weapon that would only function properly in the hands of its rightful master, refused to perform as an ordinary blade.
Its edge refused to sharpen, and its weight became impossibly heavy.
If its master let go, the blade’s weight would far surpass a thousand pounds, which was enough to crush most lower demonic spirits to death under its sheer weight alone.
“Ugh!”
Seol Tae Pyeong quickly stepped back and let the sword slide away.
Boom!
Crash!
When the Blue Snake Sword fell to the ground, the impact alone sent shockwaves rippling through the area, and a cloud of dust rose high into the sky.
Hwang Soo paid no attention to the chaos and immediately picked up the Blue Snake Sword, then started chasing after Seol Tae Pyeong who had widened the distance between them.
“Where do you think you’re going!”
The blade, which weighed over a thousand pounds, became as light as paper the moment it rested in Hwang Soo’s hand. As if it defied all logic.
This peculiar effect forced anyone who faced him to think carefully.
At times, the blade was feather-light, and at other times, it was heavier than an entire building. Anyone who dared to block it recklessly would meet instant death.
Clang! Clang! Boom!
And so, it was impossible to block it. Nor could one deflect it.
The only option was to completely evade each and every strike.
However, dodging every attack from an opponent was difficult, even if there was a vast difference in skill levels.
Sometimes, one had to restrict the enemy’s movements, block their attacks, and exploit openings to suppress them.
Simply creating distance was not a good solution.
To subdue the Blue Pillar General, it was necessary to strike a decisive blow amidst his wild flurry of sword strikes.
Boom!
Whoosh!
On top of that, within the cloud of dust, Yoo Gwang Woon’s sword slashes and Ah Cheon’s iron mace came flying at him.
Fighting against not just one but three general-level warriors at the same time was a task even Seol Tae Pyeong found overwhelming.
From Seol Tae Pyeong’s perspective, this was far more burdensome than his previous battle with the strong Sun Demonic Spirit Pyeong Ryang.
The difficulty of a one-on-one battle and a multi-opponent battle was fundamentally different.
For this reason, Seol Tae Pyeong had to make use of every means available to him.
Fwoosh!
Clang!
“Urgh!”
A throwing knife suddenly flew in and embedded itself in the shoulder of Ah Cheon, who had been attempting to circle around to attack Seol Tae Pyeong from behind.
Before Ah Cheon could pull out the throwing knife, Black Moon Leader Cheong Jin Myeong rushed in with a reverse grip on his dagger, aiming to stab Ah Cheon’s opposite shoulder.
However, Ah Cheon quickly twisted his body and narrowly avoided the dagger. But even so, the momentary distraction created an opening.
In a battle between warriors of near-first-class skill, even a single opening could determine the outcome.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Seol Tae Pyeong spun on his back foot and delivered a powerful roundhouse kick to Ah Cheon’s jaw.
“Keugh!”
The attack was so heavy that Ah Cheon’s consciousness momentarily left him.
Even as he landed the kick on Ah Cheon, Seol Tae Pyeong’s other hand had already grabbed Yoo Gwang Woon by the collar.
Thwack!
He rammed his forehead into Yoo Gwang Woon’s face with a brutal headbutt, then immediately threw him toward Ah Cheon. Finally, he followed up with a kick to Yoo Gwang Woon’s abdomen and sent them both flying.
Crash! Bang!
“Gyaaaah!”
In one corner of the banquet hall, the two generals’ large bodies crashed into the ground, causing the maids to scream and scatter in terror.
What… What kind of lunatic is this…?
Hwang Soo, who had been holding his Blue Snake Sword swallowed dryly.
These weren’t some ragtag mercenaries. They were generals of the country. They were figures of the highest rank.
Each of them was a famous warrior, capable of overwhelming a hundred men even when faced with upper-tier warriors.
Hwang Soo furrowed his brow.
Seol Tae Pyeong shook the blood from his blade and turned his eyes to Hwang Soo. His demeanor was that of a beast stalking its next prey.
It was a sight so savage that even skilled fighters would find their hands trembling in fear.
Closing his eyes for a brief moment, Hwang Soo made up his mind.
I’ll have to risk my life.
Were the generals who had fallen to Seol Lee Moon driven by the same resolve?
They had dedicated their lives to Cheongdo and served the nation as soldiers. They had vowed to remain loyal until their last breath.
That vow, in essence, meant they were prepared to lay down their lives if necessary.
Even if I can’t take his head, I’ll make sure to claim one of his arms.
Blue Pillar General Hwang Soo, ranked second in the military hierarchy of Cheongdo.
He was a man of a completely different caliber from the stray mercenaries who roamed the streets.
If such a man resolved to stake his life in battle, even a warrior born with the aptitude of a Sword Master would be forced to sacrifice an arm.
And if he could achieve that much, at the very least, it would buy time to bring this chaos under control.
A reddish energy began to flow from Hwang Soo’s body.
The chill emanating from the tip of his sword gradually coalesced, taking shape until it manifested as the figure of a demon.
“Vice General Seol Tae Pyeong.”
Hwang Soo’s burning determination locked onto Seol Tae Pyeong.
The will to stop this frenzied Sword Master, even at the cost of his own life, was so fierce it transcended nobility and veered into terrifying resolve.
“Even if it costs me my life, I must put an end to your cruel ambitions.”
Gripping his Blue Snake Sword tightly, he charged toward Seol Tae Pyeong.
At that very moment—
Clang!
The hem of a white cloth robe fluttered through the air.
An old man, who had leaped down from the peak of the Taehwa Pavilion, landed in a great arc and stomped down on Hwang Soo’s blade.
The old man’s robes defied gravity and billowed into the sky, making him look like an immortal whose robes floated weightlessly in the air.
Hwang Soo’s eyes widened in shock as he looked at the figure before him. He knew this man well.
In one hand, the old man gripped the scabbard of the Cloud and Mist Sword, while his other hand… was missing.
His empty sleeve flapped helplessly in the wind. This was the one-armed swordsman who was the highest ranked in Cheongdo’s military hierarchy.
Grand General Seong Sa Wook.
Seong Sa Wook had stomped down on Hwang Soo’s sword and drove it into the dirt.
“G-Grand General…!”
“Soo-ah, I told you. I don’t want to lose you.”
Tension gripped the entire area.
Seol Tae Pyeong stood silently, gripping his sword as he watched the situation unfold. He suddenly found himself face to face with the country’s most famous warrior, the man revered by all the warriors of Cheongdo. The old man straightened his shoulders and stood up straight.
Grand General Seong Sa Wook.
He was blessed by the divine fever at birth and he spent his entire life protecting Cheongdo.
Now his body was withered with age, nearly a hundred years old. His thin arms, protruding bones, and hollowed face gave him the appearance of someone clinging to his last days.
Yet, despite the frailty of his body, his sharp, intelligent eyes still glimmered with vitality.
Srrng!
“General Seol. You’ve crossed the line. Far too boldly.”
With those words, Grand General Seong Sa Wook pulled the scabbard of the Cloud and Mist Sword from his side and flung it onto the dirt nearby.
The legendary sword that was impossibly long bore engravings of swirling clouds across its blade.
It was said that Seong Sa Wook, with his almost mystical movements, could deflect any attack and slice through his enemies effortlessly while looking like an immortal gliding through the clouds.
The sword itself was a gift from the Imperial Palace’s most famous blacksmith. It was created to be the sharpest weapon in the land after hearing tales of the Grand General’s exploits.
And now, that unmatched blade flew toward Seol Tae Pyeong.
***
Whoooosh!
“Aahhh!”
Jin Cheong Lang let out a scream unbecoming of her status and hastily widened the distance between herself and her opponent.
General Seok Wol Ryeong charged forward with his huge frame and tried to overpower Jin Cheong Lang. However, it wasn’t easy to resist the illusion Taoist magic that had been tormenting his mind from the beginning.
S-So scary…!
From Jin Cheong Lang’s perspective, she couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed.
Although she was a Taoist born with divine talent, she was still young.
Her skill might surpass that of most old Taoists, but her heart was still that of a fragile girl.
Having spent nearly her entire life in the inner palace, receiving constant care, her resolve could not compare to that of warriors who lived on the battlefield, cutting down demonic spirits and risking their lives daily.
Blood streamed down Seok Wol Ryeong’s body.
He had repeatedly inflicted wounds on himself to break free from Jin Cheong Lang’s illusion magic. Watching him endure in such a way was like witnessing a wounded beast, pierced by countless arrows, yet relentlessly chasing its prey.
That chilling sight alone would have been enough to make most young girls collapse and their legs give way to fear.
For Jin Cheong Lang, who had neither taken a life nor fought to survive, the task of subduing a skilled general of Seok Wol Ryeong’s caliber was no small feat.
Even so, Jin Cheong Lang somehow managed to maintain her distance and glare at Seok Wol Ryeong.
Swallowing dryly, she checked the state of the Peaceful Moon Stone she was clutching tightly to her chest.
This Peaceful Moon Stone was essential to Seol Tae Pyeong’s plan.
She had to deliver it to him, who was now fighting against the generals in front of Taehwa Pavilion.
“Your Highness… why…?”
Seok Wol Ryeong who was bleeding profusely struggled to speak.
“Why… why are you siding with that traitor…? I’ve heard much about you, even in the Red Palace… that you are young yet wise, inexperienced yet kind…”
A wistful look filled Seok Wol Ryeong’s eyes.
As a high-ranking general who had dedicated his entire life to the Cheongdo Empire, it seemed that he could not understand the decision of the Heavenly Maiden, whom he had served so faithfully. It was understandable.
“What is it that made you trust Seol Tae Pyeong so much…?”
There were plenty of reasons.
Vice General Seol Tae Pyeong was a righteous man, someone with convictions worth upholding, and someone capable of realizing them.
He never drove people into suffering without reason, nor did he commit unnecessary acts of cruelty.
She believed in him, and so she followed him.
However, if there were a reason beyond all those things…
“…….”
Jin Cheong Lang hugged the Peaceful Moon Stone tightly to her chest and cold sweat broke out across her brow.
Truthfully, before considering all of that, Jin Cheong Lang simply liked Seol Tae Pyeong. She admired him, and that was the real reason she trusted and followed him.
His abilities, his character, and his accomplishments were all just secondary reasons tacked on later.
In the end, it was purely because she liked him that she chose to follow him. There wasn’t any need for some grand, complicated justification.
However, revealing such a feminine romantic sentiment in front of that loyal general would likely earn her nothing but a dumbfounded stare. For a man projecting such a tragic and dignified aura in this moment, the truth would be too cruel.
And besides that, Jin Cheong Lang herself would have died of embarrassment before she could even utter the words.
Here and now, she just needed to vaguely convey that she agreed with Seol Tae Pyeong’s grand aspirations. That alone would suffice. There was no need to offer any other explanation.
“I…”
Jin Cheong Lang was just about to come up with some excuse when—
“Ah…!”
It suddenly hit her. The Peaceful Moon Stone in her hands was a relic capable of discerning lies.
Once the stone detected a lie, it would lose its light and become just another useless rock, so she had always handled it with great care.
“….…”
I can’t lie right now…!
“Answer me! What is it…! What could possibly make someone as noble as you follow that crazy traitor?!”
Jin Cheong Lang’s cold sweat poured down like rain.
If she accidentally confessed her feelings here and now, she wouldn’t just feel embarrassed; she might actually faint from the humiliation.
“Your Highness…!!!! Please answer me!!!!!”
Jin Cheong Lang bit down on her tongue.
If she opened her mouth, she would die socially.
She did not want to die. Not like this.
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