Inside the dilapidated mansion, Yeop Hyun and Yeop Ryeong were warming themselves by the fire.
"Oppa, is that person really a prince?"
Yeop Ryeong asked, her eyes full of curiosity.
Yeop Hyun nodded.
"I don't think it's a lie."
Yeop Ryeong murmured quietly.
"Then maybe that person was deliberately waiting here for you?"
"That could be. Even small clans form factions to strengthen their influence—imagine how the royal family operates."
Yeop Hyun gently patted his younger sister's head as he continued.
"All I need to do is cure our Ryeong's illness. I have no interest in power struggles."
"Oppa, can I learn martial arts too?"
"Of course. But it's okay if you don't. I'll become stronger and protect you myself!"
Yeop Ryeong smiled cutely and hugged Yeop Hyun tightly.
"Mm… that's good, but I want to protect you too!"
At that moment, someone interrupted their conversation.
"The bond between siblings is truly touching!"
An elderly man entered the house. It was none other than Elder Jin Yak of the Jin family.
Sensing the sudden tension, Yeop Hyun clenched his fists and said to Yeop Ryeong,
"Step back!"
"Oppa, b… be careful!"
Jin Yak sized up Yeop Hyun and spoke.
"If you hand over the spirit stones willingly, I'll leave your bodies intact."
Yeop Hyun's face darkened.
He silently clenched his fists.
Jin Yak snorted.
"Are you trying to struggle? A mere boy who hasn't reached the Qi Transformation Realm dares challenge a master of the Able Technique Realm? One move is all it would take to kill you!"
Though boastful, Jin Yak did not let his guard down. As a seasoned warrior, he knew better than to underestimate an opponent.
Yeop Hyun spoke in a low voice.
"I'll give you the item. Let us go."
Jin Yak narrowed his eyes.
"Negotiate?"
His fists tightened, and his sleeves ballooned with energy, radiating the aura of a lion ready to pounce on its prey.
Yeop Hyun tossed him the black pouch. Jin Yak reached out eagerly, pleased, but at that instant, Yeop Hyun suddenly closed the distance! Jin Yak reacted instantly without flinching.
"Too predictable!"
Shuuut—!
A burst of energy echoed.
Bang—!
Before Yeop Hyun could throw a punch, he was sent flying backward into the wall. Unstopped, Jin Yak immediately charged, delivering a sweeping strike.
"Oppa!!"
Yeop Ryeong leaped between them, hugging Yeop Hyun. Jin Yak's strike continued, aimed at the two siblings—or more precisely, at Yeop Ryeong's head.
Yeop Hyun's eyes widened as his mind went blank. He yanked Yeop Ryeong behind him just in time.
A heavy sword cry rang through the room as the Spirit Little Sword appeared above Yeop Hyun's palm. His mind held one thought.
"Kill! Must kill! One Sword Determines Life and Death!"
At that moment, Cheonnyeo's voice echoed in his mind.
[That bastard… as soon as his sister is involved, his murderous instinct surges…]
As Yeop Hyun extended the Spirit Little Sword, Jin Yak's fist froze just a hand's breadth from Yeop Ryeong's head. Moments later, he had to watch as his arm was severed from his body.
A torrent of blood gushed like a waterfall. Jin Yak gritted his teeth and stumbled backward.
But before he could recover, a sword aura shot toward him—this was not a second sword, but the aura created from Yeop Hyun's first draw.
Startled, Jin Yak had no time to think and unleashed a strike with his remaining left hand, expending all his energy. There could be no reserve at the brink of life and death. A burst of energy exploded.
Whoosh—!
This time, even Jin Yak's left arm was severed. Blood spurted from the wound like a fountain. His body flew several meters away.
Meanwhile, a fine crack appeared on Yeop Hyun's right arm, blood beginning to trickle. After unleashing One Sword Determines Life and Death, he felt a deep emptiness, a weakness coursing through his body. Jin Yak stared in disbelief.
"Sword aura… how is this possible… A Sword Master… no, a Great Sword Master… impossible… no one in Qi Transformation can spread sword aura like this… Great Sword Master? Impossible!"
A Sword Master is someone skilled in basic swordsmanship; a Great Sword Master is someone who can wield sword energy and aura at will, a level rarely reached, with fewer than a hundred in the entire kingdom, most elderly.
And yet Yeop Hyun was only eighteen.
Jin Yak was stunned. Yeop Hyun glared at him coldly.
"Get lost."
Jin Yak paused briefly, then turned and disappeared from sight. Only then did Yeop Hyun collapse to the floor from exhaustion.
Yeop Ryeong, panicked, helped him up, her voice trembling.
"Oppa, a… are you okay?"
Yeop Hyun, barely sitting, forced a smile at her worried face.
"I'm okay. Don't worry, Ryeong. I'll rest a bit."
He slowly closed his eyes.
"Cheonnyeo?"
Calling out in his mind, Cheonnyeo responded.
[I know what you're thinking. With your current skill, you cannot fully control the power of One Sword Determines Life and Death. If the damage you deal is ten, the damage you suffer is eight. I let you unleash it now so you could understand sword principles and develop your own way of swordsmanship.]
Yeop Hyun was silent for a moment. His ability to use One Sword Determines Life and Death had not come from training but from the sheer will to protect Yeop Ryeong.
As Cheonnyeo explained, One Sword Determines Life and Death is a philosophy of swordsmanship, not just technique.
[Your current One Sword Determines Life and Death is upper-grade sword technique. The sword aura you unleashed came from your own strong sword energy, not from training. But since you have not reached the Qi Master Realm, you took some damage. Once you take your sister to the imperial city, you must find a Spirit Sword, absorb it, and reach the Qi Master Realm!]
Yeop Hyun nodded.
"So that's why my body felt empty afterward! Still, I managed to cut off that man's arms!"
A smile crept onto his face. Jin Yak had been a master of the Able Technique Realm!
[Idiot!]
Cheonnyeo's cold voice spoke.
[He was flashy but a formidable opponent for you. He made one critical mistake—he underestimated you after striking. Had he known you were a Sword Master from the start, you wouldn't have succeeded.]
Yeop Hyun's expression darkened.
Indeed, when they first exchanged blows, he had been at a disadvantage. Without his hidden Golden Body training, he might have died instantly from Jin Yak's first strike.
Cheonnyeo continued.
[There's a two-level gap between you and him. You cannot surpass it with your current skill. But if you master Dao Principles and harness them within the Jeokok, you can overcome it.]
"Cheonnyeo, last time you mentioned Dao Principles too. What are they? Where can I find them?"
[No rush. When you reach the Swordmaster stage, you will understand naturally. For now, focus on your sister. The seal on the second floor of Jeokok is weakening. If you don't improve quickly, the seal will break, and no one will save you.]
Yeop Hyun inhaled deeply. He had not forgotten—the first floor of Jeokok held a Sword Lord, fortunately already dead. But on this floor, the occupant was likely still alive.
If the seal broke, that person might kill him to offer a sacrifice to the heavens! There was still time.
Opening his eyes, Yeop Hyun felt his strength returning slightly. He knew he must be cautious when using One Sword Determines Life and Death. If he failed to kill an opponent, he might die instead.
"Oppa, are you okay?"
Yeop Hyun turned to see Yeop Ryeong's pale face.
"I'm fine. A little rest will help."
Her tense expression softened slightly.
"I guess I'm really useless… me…"
"Don't think about that now. Once your illness is cured, I'll teach you martial arts. Then you can protect me. Not too late, understand?"
Yeop Ryeong looked at him with wide eyes.
"Can I really learn?"
"Of course!"
Her expression hardened with determination.
"Oppa, watch me. I'll become really strong! I'll become the strongest and protect you no matter what!"
Yeop Hyun smiled, patting her head.
"Good! I'll wait for that day!"
He did not realize that his words would embed themselves in her mind for a lifetime.
After resting for another hour, they set off again.
Riding toward Cheonsan City, Yeop Hyun urged his horse faster. Yeop Ryeong's condition had worsened—she wore heavy clothing even during the day and was taking two Yangsin Pills daily. At this rate, the remaining pills wouldn't last two weeks, and she might not withstand the cold even with them. Reaching the imperial city quickly was essential.
Meanwhile, Jin Yak, now missing both arms, appeared with Jinpa, head of the Jin family, at the empty mansion. Seeing his severed arms on the floor, Jin Yak's face twisted in rage.
Jinpa's expression also darkened. Finally, he spoke.
"Are you sure he's a Great Sword Master?"
Jin Yak nodded.
"If not, how could he have cut off my arms?"
Jinpa clenched his fists, unreadable thoughts behind his dark expression. He spoke quietly.
"We cannot take revenge ourselves."
The opponent had become a Great Sword Master at an unusually young age. The Jin family lacked the strength to face such a warrior.
Jinpa spoke again.
"Yet we cannot let this go. Spread rumors that Yeop Hyun possesses more than ten upper-grade spirit stones. Those who hear it will try to capture him!"
Jin Yak's expression softened.
"Then we can take revenge through others."
An idea occurred to Jin Yak.
"But was his name really Yeop Hyun?"
Jinpa nodded.
"He was originally the heir of the Yeop family. But after the appearance of the prodigy Yeop Rang, he was shunned and eventually left the family."
Jin Yak frowned in disbelief.
"Are the Yeop family elders all out of their minds?"
"They've already become the laughingstock of surrounding cities. Yeop Hyun's skill was acknowledged by Master Anransu, who personally requested a duel. It turns out it was Yeop Hyun, not Yeop Rang, who caused the celestial-level disturbance. The Yeop family mistook Yeop Rang for the hero and treated him with utmost respect. The elders must be more foolish than pigs!"
"Truly foolish people. And the Yeop family now?"
"They're under such pressure from other forces in Cheongseong they can barely breathe. Ha! They can't take revenge on Yeop Hyun, so they'll have to gain something from the family instead. Let's go! We'll gather warriors and march on the Yeop family to recover our losses!"
Jinpa turned and left. Jin Yak remained, staring gloomily at his severed arms on the floor. Anger toward Yeop Hyun boiled inside him, but he knew he had to stop here.
He left the mansion. Revenge on Yeop Hyun was impossible—but against the Yeop family, it was still possible.