Prologue
The Conqueror's Star!
It was one of the oldest legends passed down in the martial world.
The legend said that when a brilliant red star rose in the northern sky, it would save the chaotic martial world and herald the birth of a Conqueror King—the first in history to unify the martial realm of the Nine Provinces and Eight Desolations.
That star… had risen.
People were excited.
Especially families in which a child was born during the year when the Conqueror's Star appeared.
However, a group of experts studying astronomical calendars presented a different opinion about the legend.
They theorized that when a star newly appeared to the naked eye, it might actually have been born decades earlier.
For any notable figure in the martial world of the Sword Forest of Blades, it was easy to think, Could it be me? Families that had children born before the official year of the Conqueror's Star were especially eager to support the theory.
The entire martial world was in an uproar over the appearance of a single star.
Chapter 1 – Four Reasons
1
"I object."
The voice came from a young man among the group of porters, speaking clearly in response to the statement from the head of the escort company, the Chief Escort Master.
At his words, the surroundings instantly fell silent.
It was such an absurd occurrence that everyone froze.
The Chief Escort Master's words had been a direct order to his escort warriors. Yet a mere porter, tucked away in a corner, had openly defied the order.
When people turned to see who had spoken, they clicked their tongues and shook their heads. As expected—it was him.
The young man was twenty-five-year-old Cheon Ryu-yeong.
Though he had an ordinary appearance, he had two traits that set him apart.
First, he had a pleasant voice that made one feel good just listening to it. Second, he possessed an impressive talent for calligraphy.
Eight years ago, when the escort company had been hiring for an administrative position, the company owner had seen young Cheon Ryu-yeong's handwriting and praised it as if "the legendary calligrapher Wang Xizhi himself had been reincarnated."
Despite objections from others, who argued that the boy was too young and inexperienced, the company owner hired him with joy.
But only a year later, the owner died suddenly of illness, and his son inherited the business. In an instant, Cheon Ryu-yeong's position crumbled like a sandcastle.
The new owner had always disliked the young upstart who, emboldened by the former owner's favor, often spoke bluntly. So he gave Cheon Ryu-yeong two choices: leave the company on his own, or stay on as a mere porter, serving as a scribe for minor documents during escort journeys.
It was either dismissal or a humiliating demotion.
With no other way to make a living, Cheon Ryu-yeong chose the latter, spending the past seven years wandering the land.
"So it's you again. Hah hah hah."
The sixty-two-year-old Chief Escort Master stroked his white beard and chuckled at Cheon Ryu-yeong's outburst. At his side, the quick-tempered Yellow Escort Master stepped forward in irritation.
"How dare a lowly wretch like you contradict the Chief Escort Master's orders? You know well that insubordination during a mission can be punished on the spot, yet you dare to utter such insolence?"
The burly Yellow Escort Master looked as if he might draw the ornate sword at his hip at any moment.
Such pressure would have been unbearable for someone without martial skill, yet Cheon Ryu-yeong held his ground and spoke.
"Why are we suddenly taking a detour when Mount Aso is right before us? Wouldn't that add three extra days to our schedule?"
The Yellow Escort Master frowned.
"And did you ignore the Chief Escort Master's words that he would provide three more days' worth of silver for that?"
"That can't be the only reason…"
The Yellow Escort Master cut him off coldly.
"Silence! If you dislike the monastery, the monk may leave—if you won't cooperate with the escort, then leave now. Stop with your useless excuses and decide whether you're coming or staying."
He even considered advising the Chief Escort Master to use this chance to get rid of the thorn in their side.
However, the man's skill with paperwork was exceptional. After every mission, mountains of documents had to be processed—a task that took days. Cheon Ryu-yeong could finish it all in half a day, with precision and neatness.
Because of that, the company tolerated him despite their dislike.
At the Yellow Escort Master's scolding, Cheon Ryu-yeong bit his lip.
He already suspected the true reason for the sudden route change.
Aso Stronghold.
That meant they intended to bypass Mount Aso's bandits without paying the toll and keep the silver for themselves. He didn't care about them pocketing the money—
The problem was that the bandits might realize what was happening.
And the Aso Stronghold wasn't just some ragtag group on any random mountain.
They were highly skilled in martial arts, numbering over 250 men, and were one of the Eighteen Green Forest Strongholds of the continent. They were especially notorious for their hot tempers.
Even if the chance was slim, this was a matter of life and death.
If Aso Stronghold had caught wind of escort companies and merchant groups trying to avoid paying tolls, they might choose them as an example—and massacre them.
Cheon Ryu-yeong and the Yellow Escort Master's eyes clashed in the air, each knowing what the other was thinking.
The Yellow Escort Master's expression clearly warned: Don't stir up unnecessary fear. But Cheon Ryu-yeong still opened his mouth.
"Just because some merchant groups and escort companies took the detour safely doesn't guarantee that we will. In fact, because they broke the agreement with Aso Stronghold, our danger is even greater. Unless those bandits are fools—"
The Yellow Escort Master cut him off with a jab of his finger.
"That's your problem—you're always worrying. Yet in the past seven years, not one of your endless concerns has ever come true."
Even faced with the man's blazing glare, Cheon Ryu-yeong didn't shrink back.
"That was only because we were lucky. Whenever we plan or change something, we must always keep the worst-case scenario in mind."
"Hah! Now you're trying to teach me? I'm sick of your constant nitpicking. Just say whether you'll obey the Chief Escort Master's decision or not."
"Yellow Escort Master! This needs careful consideration. Seventy lives are at stake here."
"Hmph! If you don't want to follow, then leave the escort and go home. And since you're refusing your duty as a porter, you won't get a single coin of your pay. No—since we'll have to hire someone new, you'll compensate us for their wages as well."
The Yellow Escort Master's final declaration.
The Chief Escort Master nodded in agreement.
Cheon Ryu-yeong clenched his fists and trembled, then finally lowered his head.
Because of the company owner's bad rumors about him, finding another job was impossible.
His widowed mother barely earned enough from sewing to keep them fed. If he became unemployed, who would pay for his sick younger sister's medicine?
With his livelihood hanging by a thread, Cheon Ryu-yeong ground his teeth before speaking with difficulty.
"I'm sorry."
All he could do was hope for good fortune.
Such was the pitiful reality of living as the dependent rather than the powerful.
From behind his bowed head, the mockery of the escort masters and escorts rained down on him.
Splish, splish.
Water from the shallow stream splattered in all directions, disturbed by hooves, human feet, or the wheels of carts laden with goods.
The escort company's convoy was moving along the low creek bed running through a wide gorge between rocky mountains.
The February sun was sinking toward the western sky, and dusk was quietly settling in.
It was about time to light torches for visibility, but the company leaders gave no such order.
The escorts, tasked with guarding the convoy, scanned the surroundings with sharp eyes, gripping their weapons tightly.
The air felt like something could happen at any moment.
Even the porters carrying loads on their backs were so tense they hardly dared to breathe audibly.
"I don't have a good feeling about this…"
Walking near the rear of the convoy, Cheon Ryu-yeong muttered to himself.
The youngest porter beside him spoke up.
"Hyung-nim, since nothing's happened so far, it looks like we'll make it through the gorge safely."
Cheon Ryu-yeong gave a wry smile at the pimpled youth's words.
"That was just me talking to myself—did you hear it?"
The youngster covered his mouth, laughing silently.
"As always, your 'talking to yourself' is too loud, Hyung-nim."
Just as he said, several escorts walking nearby shot sharp, unfriendly glares at Cheon Ryu-yeong—a silent warning to shut his mouth and keep moving.
Cheon Ryu-yeong merely shrugged as if to say he couldn't help it, and walked on quietly.
The darkness that had been slowly descending soon swallowed the surroundings in pitch black. At that point, Yellow Escort Master, who was leading the front, approached the four-wheeled carriage in the middle of the convoy.
"Chief Escort Master, it's too dark to continue like this."
His tone carried concern; just the previous night, they had relied only on moon and starlight, and one of the carts had overturned, causing considerable trouble.
The window of the carriage opened, revealing the genial-faced Chief Escort Master.
"Light the torches. We should be safe enough now."
"Yes. Just one more shichen and we'll be there."
"Good. Even if it's small, there's a government office there… But stay alert until the very end."
"Yes, sir! I understand."
The Yellow Escort Master turned back energetically and shouted to the escorts.
"Stop for a moment, light the torches, then move out again."
Men pulled out flint and steel, striking sparks to ignite the torches.
The Chief Escort Master watched his subordinates' orderly work, then stepped out of the carriage. Staying inside made him restless.
Stretching his arms, he drew in a deep breath of the wind flowing through the gorge. The cold air filling his lungs seemed to lift his spirits. Turning his head, he happened to lock eyes with Cheon Ryu-yeong at the rear.
Tsk, tsk.
The Chief Escort Master stroked his beard and clicked his tongue without a word—his expression said enough: pathetic.
There's a saying, luck is seven parts, skill is three. No matter how skilled or hardworking, without the right connections, success in life was difficult.
Cheon Ryu-yeong, however, possessed none of the fawning flattery essential to survival in society. Even so, he would have been worth keeping around if he just followed orders without question—he was one of those rare types who could understand and prepare two or three steps ahead from a single instruction.
But instead, he always had to ask "Why?" or "For what reason?" Reading his superior's thoughts on his own and then arguing back like an insolent brat.
No matter how talented, such a man was hard to accept. A poor wretch with pride higher than the sky.
Seeing the contempt in the Chief Escort Master's eyes, Cheon Ryu-yeong's expression hardened—but then he smiled faintly and bowed. The man turned his head away sharply, unwilling to even acknowledge the greeting.
The youngest beside Cheon Ryu-yeong whispered sympathetically,
"Hyung-nim… I think you've been properly marked this time."
"Heh heh, I've always been marked."
"Aigoo… Hyung-nim, really. If you'd just swallow your temper, life would be easier. What good is it to get on the bad side of the people above you?"
"Perhaps you're right. But… is it truly my fault?"
"Huh?"
"It might be that their measure is too small to contain me."
The youngster looked baffled.
"So, Hyung-nim, just how big is your 'measure'?"
At that, Cheon Ryu-yeong let out a faint sigh and looked up at the sky—at the Conqueror's Star shining above the Milky Way.
He etched that star into his eyes and engraved it in his heart, as so many warriors of the martial world did.
"How would I know my own measure? No one's ever truly tried to hold me, and I've never had the chance to hold something of my own."
"…"
"Time just flows by without me doing anything… maybe this world simply doesn't welcome me. I'm never even given a chance. Hah… and even if a chance did come, I'm not sure I could make good on it. After all, I'm just a man who writes a little calligraphy and organizes some documents…"
There was so much bitterness in his tone that the youngster's nose stung.
"Hyung-nim…"
Cheon Ryu-yeong rubbed the boy's head with a grin.
"Heh heh. Just a bit of self-pity, that's all. Everyone lives with such laments now and then."
And then—
From the rocky mountain to the right, a thunderous roar erupted.
"You curs! Do you think Aso Stronghold so worthless that you'd insult us like this? I'll kill you all and make an example for every merchant group and escort company that uses this road!"
No sooner had the roar ended than a hail of arrows rained down.
Screams broke out from all directions.
In an instant, the peaceful air was consumed by chaos.