Returning To One’s Roots

By the time Ju-un’s party arrived at the base of Dragon Gate Mountain, it was already well past the hour of the dragon¹.

Impatient, Ju-un rushed straight toward Dragon Gate Sect’s front gate, but Yun Seol blocked her way.

“Calm down first. Even if you demand they hand over your brother right now, if they deny it, that’s the end of it. We need a plan.”

Yun Seol’s words made perfect sense, yet Ju-un couldn’t suppress the ominous feeling in her heart.

Ever since she’d heard that Yun-seon went toward Dragon Gate Sect, her heart had been pounding, as if some great disaster was imminent.

“There’s no time to find a method.”

Yun Seol was nervous as well, but she forced a bright smile to reassure Ju-un.

“One of our sect’s disciples has already infiltrated. According to the message that arrived at dawn, within one shijin (two hours) they’ll rescue Brother Yun-seon.”

Ju-un suddenly felt as if cold water had been poured down her chest—her heart cooled and eased.

“Is that true? But… who?”

To bring Yun-seon out, the infiltrator would need a fairly high rank.

Among Dragon Gate Sect disciples, their seniority had to be considerable, but she couldn’t guess who it could be.

Even to Ju-un, Yun Seol couldn’t reveal internal secrets so easily, and she hesitated.

She wanted to ask her grandfather, but he was nowhere in sight behind them.

“If you really must go, at least go in first and observe the situation. I’ll wait at the rendezvous point. If things go wrong—which they shouldn’t—we’ll meet again at the inn.”

Thinking Yun Seol had a point, Ju-un accepted without protest.

They parted ways about 30 meters short of the Dragon Gate Sect’s front gate.

They exchanged only a brief nod, promising to meet again soon, yet the uneasy feeling lingered.

It might soon be a matter of staking one’s life.

“Let us meet again… please.”

Yun Seol murmured as she watched Ju-un’s figure disappear like the wind.

Not only the Emptiness Dhuta Sect but also the so-called Orthodox sects she had encountered were invariably hypocritical.

Cool on the surface yet warm and naïve within, Ju-un worried her deeply.

“Grandfather, it’ll be alright, won’t it?”

“Of course—it’s Mu-yeong’s only disciple. Even if unlucky enough to fall into a trap, her master won’t abandon her. Don’t worry too much.”

At Seong Gon’s indifferent reply, Yun Seol suddenly realized something.

“Then… the Sword Immortal is here too?”

But her grandfather had already gone on far ahead.

“There’s no time to waste. Walk at your pace and you’ll get someone killed.”

“Eek!”

Yun Seol hurried to catch up.

Soon the image of a stretching tiger appeared in her vision.

“Sect Lord Jo, what is the meaning of this?”

Go Geun-dong demanded, his face showing disbelief, directed at Jo Sang-won.

He had always respected Jo Sang-won even more than Jo Yang.

He had even thought Jo Sang-won was the one truly fit to be elected Martial Alliance Leader.

That such a man had been secretly helping the Taiyi Divine Sect was outrageous.

“The Taiyi Divine Sect scoundrels are nothing if not cunning. Who could have imagined this?”

So So-jeong too was greatly shocked by Jo Sang-won’s true identity.

When she first heard Jo Yang’s words in the council, she only wondered if it could be true.

If it had been Go Yu-saeng or Go Geun-dong, she would have been less surprised.

That such a dignified man was a spy of the Taiyi Divine Sect… the betrayal stung all the more because of her trust.

“That brat deceived us for years! Even if I break all his limbs, my anger won’t be eased.”

Go Yu-saeng’s face, glaring at Yun-seon, was full of rage.

To infiltrate the Emptiness Dhuta Sect under the pretense of his master’s death—utterly devious.

He intended to deal with Jo Sang-won first, then capture Yun-seon alive and force him to reveal the scripture’s whereabouts.

Listening carefully to their words, Jo Sang-won could guess what sweet lies Jo Yang had used to manipulate them.

It seemed this would indeed be his last day.

“Since when did you know?”

Jo Sang-won smiled faintly, his face showing no trace of anxiety.

He had long expected such a day, so he could remain unexpectedly calm.

“We suspected early on, but we couldn’t accuse a sect leader outright, so we waited for a chance. We deliberately used a seemingly weak disciple to lure you, and you revealed yourself quickly. You should have been more cautious.”

Jo Yang reasoned that if there was a spy inside, it had to be someone highly placed.

After all, only elders knew of the trap set at the martial gathering to capture the Taiyi Divine Sect.

Yet he hadn’t suspected Jo Sang-won directly.

Only last night, when he suddenly appeared and guided them to hide Yun-seon, did his true identity become clear.

“A family that sold out Ryeo Nation just to survive—such people coveting royal treasures makes no sense. Once a traitor, always a traitor.”

Jo Sang-won, who had struggled to maintain composure, lost control at Jo Yang’s sneer.

Matters of his family were his inverse scale—something never to be touched.

“How dare trash like you speak so? I’ll split you in two so you can never spew that vile mouth again!”

With a fierce shout, Sang-won drew his sword.

As his heavy blade left its scabbard, it thundered like the heavens, shaking the surroundings with powerful vibrations.

It was the Azure Cloud Sword, once compared to Shin Yang-seon’s Full Moon Sword.

“Utterly disgraceful. To have served a petty man like you as our Sect Lord—I can’t hold my head high.”

The eldest of the Yong brothers, Yong Ga-hyeon, stepped forward and bowed to the assembled sect masters.

“As traitors of our sect, allow us three brothers the chance to deal with him.”

Jo Yang and the others all agreed.

Go Geun-dong even felt relieved.

His master Shin Yang-seon had once fought Jo Sang-won and told his disciples this:

“Jo Sang-won is an equal even to Jo Yang, famed as the best of the martial world. The reason Yong Ga-hyeon, despite his renown, never became sect leader is entirely skill. Best not to make an enemy of him.”

The three Yong brothers each drew their weapons and advanced.

They knew well they had no chance unless the three fought together.

“Young Warrior Kang, listen well. While I buy time, you must seize the chance to re-enter the compound. Do you remember that narrow passage from before? If you force your way through to the Tiger Rock, you’ll have a path for survival.”

Yun-seon immediately understood what Sang-won meant, but he couldn’t leave him to die and shook his head violently.

“Sect Lord, is there no way we can escape together?”

“Young Warrior Kang…”

Jo Sang-won whispered a few more words into Yun-seon’s ear and gently embraced his shoulder.

“I wish you fortune.”

His final look at Yun-seon was strangely happy, unfitting for such a life-or-death moment.

It seemed he was glad that at last, he could stand proudly as a man of Ryeo Nation.

“To cross swords with you three is an honor.”

He raised his sword upright and bowed respectfully to the three Yong brothers.

Whatever the truth, they had shared over ten years of hardship and joys together.

It was impossible not to feel attachment.

“Sect Lord Jo, please forgive our disloyalty.”

The second brother, Yong Song-hyeon, who had especially followed him, already had reddened eyes.

Even standing here, seeing it with his own eyes, he hadn’t wanted to believe Sang-won’s identity.

“Hyung, separate public duty from private feeling.”

The youngest, Yong Jo-hyeon, was uneasy too, but they could not further stain their sect’s name.

In fact, ending it with their own hands felt like a final courtesy to their sect leader.

When Jo Sang-won moved his sword, the sand that had settled in the courtyard rose in a swirl of dust.

A small vortex gathered around his blade, the very air shifting at once.

It was Dragon Gate Sect’s secret technique, the Unclouded, infused into his Sword qi.

‘Truly, his reputation is well-earned.’

Jo Yang couldn’t help but admire Sang-won’s inner power.

Even if he fought directly, defeating Sang-won quickly would be impossible.

As an enemy, he was far too terrifying.

‘Perhaps cutting him off here is strategy itself.’

Since Sang-won naturalized into Gyeong Nation, he had never dropped his suspicion.

Now, with this chance to shed both the troublesome Yun-seon and Sang-won, he felt relieved.

‘Eliminate Jo Sang-won, hand over Yun-seon as planned… and if the boy dies in the process, all the better.’

Fortunately, the gullible Go Geun-dong and So So-jeong seemed to believe his improvisation—that Yun-seon was a spy hiding the scripture.

That toad-like Go Yu-saeng of the Yellow Stone Sect still looked doubtful, but once Yun-seon was handed over, the matter would solve itself.

“Unclouded Humming Step.”

As Sang-won intoned softly and raised his sword, blue Sword qi enveloped the heavy blade.

Normally the Unclouded technique was used bare-handed, but infused into the sword it was ideal for facing many opponents.

Yong Ga-hyeon too resolved to use the Unclouded technique.

With his iron fist bracers on the right hand to block the Sword qi, he gathered Soyo Gong into his left fist to unleash a gale strike.

“Whish!”

At last, Sang-won launched himself into the gap the three brothers had left.

Though the sword was heavy, in his strong hands it whipped about like a feather duster.

As the blue Sword qi lashed at them in waves, even the hesitant Song-hyeon and Jo-hyeon were forced to draw their weapons—the broadsword and the halberd.

“When the battle reaches its peak, there will be no chance to guard the boy. Take him then.”

So So-jeong whispered secretly into Go Geun-dong’s ear.

Geun-dong didn’t have the courage to enter such a fierce clash, but he nodded, thinking it the best method.

Go Yu-saeng, with far stronger martial arts, had much more composure.

He had no reason to join the fray of four.

Once those fools secured the boy, he could just take him for himself.

Swoosh!

Yong Ga-hyeon’s fist gale shot straight toward Jo Sang-won’s chest, but it was extinguished before it could land, blocked by his Sword qi.

Right after, Yong Jo-hyeon’s halberd brushed past his back, but it only tore his collar and failed to leave even a scratch.

“Song-hyeon! What are you hesitating for?”

Frustrated, Ga-hyeon roared at his younger brother.

Song-hyeon, moved by affection, only defended and refused to attack, which was maddening.

If he kept hesitating, the brothers would be driven into a defensive corner.

Sang-won knew this too.

If Song-hyeon hesitated, the fight would end swiftly.

He twisted his body left twice, then sent Sword qi streaming toward Song-hyeon’s nape.

Clang!

A thin wound opened on Song-hyeon’s neck, red blood dripping down.

Had he not barely blocked it, his head would have forever parted from his body.

“Sect Lord Jo!”

Only then did he realize Jo Sang-won’s intention.

Even without them, Sang-won had chosen today as his final day.

Understanding that their sect leader wished to atone through death, tears streamed endlessly from Song-hyeon’s eyes.

“You fool, how could you be so blind?”

Ga-hyeon had realized from Sang-won’s very first strike.

That fighting with everything they had was the greatest respect they could show their master.

Jo Sang-won quickly stepped three times to the right, then executed Azure Cloud Eternal Secret, spinning his body and stabbing with his sword.

His blade grazed Yong Jo-hyeon’s wrist as the halberd thrust toward him, then sharply shifted direction.

This time it was Azure Cloud Harboring Silence.

He condensed the dispersed Sword qi, hardening his blade, and cut straight through Yong Ga-hyeon’s fist.

“Hyung!”

By the time Song-hyeon shouted, the Azure Cloud Sword had already severed Ga-hyeon’s left ring and little fingers.

At the same moment, the blade edge embedded in the iron fist bracers struck Sang-won’s right shoulder.

The rebound force flung Ga-hyeon back more than six meters, and both younger brothers rushed at Sang-won without hesitation.

“Go!”

Then Sang-won spotted Go Geun-dong rushing toward Yun-seon.

He knocked aside the iron bracers and roared with all his might.

He hastily drew back the Azure Cloud Sword and swung diagonally, releasing energy like an umbrella.

Go Geun-dong, close enough to grab Yun-seon’s collar, was frozen in place by dozens of blue Sword-qi blades.

In that instant, Yun-seon darted into the doorway like an arrow.

“You rat bastard!”

When Geun-dong refused to give up and tried to enter the inner hall, Jo Sang-won spun fully to block the door.

Sang-won knocked Geun-dong away from the door with his force, but he couldn’t defend against the attacks pouring in from behind.

As expected, Song-hyeon’s broadsword and Jo-hyeon’s halberd ripped across his back in turn.

“Ugh!”

Yet after confirming Yun-seon had gone inside, Sang-won’s expression showed no pain.

“You must live… no matter what.”

Having reached the end of his arduous path, only a serene smile remained on his face.

수구초심 (首丘初心), (Returning to One’s Roots):

“When a fox dies, it lays its head toward the den it once lived in”—a metaphor for yearning for one’s homeland before death.