A boy who had been speaking with Yeopryeong and a middle-aged man who appeared to be his father approached the Yeophyeon siblings.
"Excuse me, it just so happens that one of our physicians is traveling with us. If it's not an inconvenience, would it be alright for our physician to examine your younger sister's condition?"
Yeophyeon nodded in surprise.
"P-please! Thank you so much!"
The middle-aged man sent a look to the elderly man in black standing behind him, and the elderly man nodded before approaching Yeopryeong to inspect her injuries.
"She's fine. Just some external wounds. Her dislocated arm has already been set, so she just needs a few days of rest. But this chill in her body… my, I've never encountered such a severe chill in all my life…"
"That's truly a relief! To hear that nothing else is wrong is such a blessing! As for the chill, we have a plan, so you needn't worry about it!"
The elderly man nodded and then moved aside.
Yeophyeon turned to the middle-aged man, adopting a formal posture, and said,
"My name is Yeophyeon. And you are?"
The middle-aged man smiled brightly in response.
"I am Cheonsan Seongju, Yuk Soyeon."
At the mention of "Seongju," Yeophyeon once again bowed respectfully.
"I don't know how to thank you for what you've done for my sister!"
"Please, no need for thanks. It was a small matter."
Yeophyeon nodded slightly and then turned to walk toward Elder Go. Everyone, including Yuk Soyeon, was momentarily stunned.
Was he really going to do it?
Han Hyangmong and the elderly man beside her instantly grew pale.
Even though Elder Go was part of the Outer Tower, he was still an elder of Chwiseonru. If he were killed right in front of them, it would bring shame to Chwiseonru.
Yeophyeon stopped in front of Elder Go, and Han Hyangmong stepped forward to block him.
"Master Yeop, we will deal with this matter severely in Chwiseonru, so you needn't worry. In return, perhaps a small token of goodwill to Master Yeop—"
Yeophyeon glared at Han Hyangmong as if ready to cut her down.
"Step aside, won't you?!"
At that moment, just as Han Hyangmong frowned, about to speak, Yeophyeon moved right up to her.
"Didn't you lead us to the top chamber? Yet when he tormented my sister, why did you do nothing? You were trying to gauge my abilities through a fight with him, weren't you? And your plan was to drive both me and him to mutual destruction, wasn't it? Am I wrong?"
Han Hyangmong stiffened, clenching her hands in shock.
His guess was correct.
Elder Go, standing nearby, began to laugh loudly.
"Ha ha ha! How could you be wrong? She merely underestimated your love for your sister and your skill with the sword. Otherwise, she would have risked her life to save your sister to form a bond with you. But it seems Han Hyangmong miscalculated completely, ha ha ha!"
Taking advantage of the distraction, Yeophyeon thrust his sword at Elder Go's forehead.
Thud!
Blood gushed like a waterfall from Elder Go's forehead, and everyone's expressions hardened instantly. This was a clear provocation against Chwiseonru!
Han Hyangmong's face turned pale in an instant.
Elder Go's death was not the end of the incident, but the beginning. Calmly sheathing his sword, Yeophyeon returned to Yeopryeong.
"I will eliminate anyone who dares to trouble you!"
Tears welled up in Yeopryeong's eyes at his words.
Suddenly, the Yunseon stopped moving. From above, a massive crane appeared, its wings easily spanning over ten zhang. On the crane stood a dignified middle-aged man holding a jade fan.
As the crane descended onto the Yunseon amid the gazes of the crowd, the strong wind pushed people backward. As the middle-aged man slowly stepped down from the crane's wings, Han Hyangmong and the elderly man rushed forward in surprise, bowing in respect.
"We pay respects to Master Han Rujoo!"
"We pay respects to Master Han Rujoo!"
Upon hearing this, Cheonsan Seongju Yuk Soyeon's expression stiffened. Chwiseonru had nine floors, each governed by a Rujoo. Their individual power and skill were immense, and a single Rujoo could command the entire Chwiseonru, even making the ruler of the kingdom yield in deference. The Rujoo nodded in acknowledgment of their greetings before shifting his gaze to Elder Go's corpse.
"Dead?"
Han Hyangmong and the elderly man dared not speak and merely nodded. The Rujoo then turned his gaze to Yeophyeon, studying him up and down with a strange look.
"It is rare to see someone with such solid foundations, but even rarer to encounter a swordsman who has reached the clarity of the sword's heart. Truly, this kingdom is full of exceptional talent!"
The Rujoo addressed the gathered crowd.
"This is a private matter of Chwiseonru. I ask that you all return to your quarters and rest."
The crowd quickly dispersed. Cheonsan Seongju Yuk Soyeon also glanced at Yeophyeon before taking the boy who had resisted leaving with him and departing.
Only a few remained on the deck. The Rujoo fixed a piercing gaze on Yeophyeon.
"If you've trained a warrior like you, then you cannot come from an ordinary force. Speak—who supports you, that you dare attack Chwiseonru?"
Yeophyeon smiled.
"If my backing is strong, will you let me live?"
The Rujoo shook his head.
"Killing an elder of Chwiseonru in broad daylight insults the entire organization. Whoever you are, you will not leave alive today. Unfortunately, we also have a reputation to maintain in Cheongju. Asking about your backing is also to hold them accountable. In any case, no force in this kingdom can match Chwiseonru."
Yeophyeon remained silent. He had no backing. Though he had impulsively killed Elder Go, even if the situation repeated, he would act the same way. If he hadn't killed Elder Go, he would have only faced light punishment and resumed his comfortable life.
Then who would right the injustice done to Yeopryeong?
He could endure his own suffering, but he would never tolerate harm coming to his sister. The Rujoo pressed for an answer.
"Why, unwilling to speak?"
"I have no backing. That is the truth."
"You killed someone from Chwiseonru without support?"
Yeophyeon met the man's eyes squarely.
"I killed him because he looked down on others, trusting Chwiseonru's authority. That's all there is to it."
"You're seriously mistaken. The powerful rule the world. If Chwiseonru oppresses you, you merely bow and endure. That way, you survive. But you couldn't control your anger and almost lost your life. How foolish!"
Yeophyeon straightened his back and shouted.
"How can a swordsman bow to others!"
"Ha! That's true. One who bows cannot be called a swordsman. Since you have no backing, then you must handle this alone."
"You're not alone! I'll face it with my brother!"
Suddenly, Yeopryeong sprang forward, embracing Yeophyeon, glaring fiercely at the Rujoo.
"We'll face this together!"
The Rujoo smiled at Yeopryeong.
"Very well. Soldiers! Kill them and display their heads at the bow. Let the world see what happens to those who oppose Chwiseonru!"
After issuing the command, the Rujoo turned to leave.
Then!
Yeophyeon's sword began to tremble violently in his hand. The Rujoo spun around to see a woman standing at the bow. Her long black hair reached her waist, and she slowly turned to face the hall. A breeze lifted her pristine white skirt.
The Rujoo's expression darkened. He had not sensed her presence until now. Who was she?
The woman spoke.
"I stand here to show you what true arrogance is. Attack me with all your strength. If I strike a second time with my sword, I will concede."
Yeophyeon froze. The voice was unmistakable. It was the voice he had always heard from Gyeokok Tower.
'How is she here? How is this possible!?'
While Yeophyeon hesitated, the Rujoo narrowed his eyes at the celestial woman.
"You dare tell Chwiseonru to give their all? Preposterous! Even the Great Han Empire, the largest power in Cheongju, would never dare speak so to Chwiseonru!"
Chwiseonru was a vast power with roots throughout both the kingdom and Cheongju, surviving multiple dynastic changes.
The celestial woman scattered her white jade beads into the air without a word.
Below the Yunseon, the waters of the river began to gather, forming a single water sword in an instant.
The warriors in the hall could only stare in disbelief.
"What is that?"
[Watch closely!]
Yeophyeon heard her voice in his mind.
[This is true life-or-death in a single strike!]
The water sword in her hand transformed into a beam of sword light, surging into the hall.
Is the sword fast?
By no means. Its speed was slow enough for everyone to see clearly.
Even the Rujoo watched the slowly advancing sword. Yet his face was dark, for he could not grasp the essence of this sword.
A single strike beyond comprehension!
The Rujoo could not simply sit and wait to die.
He pressed his hands together, forming a seal, and golden light swirled around him. As he executed flowing hand signs, the Yunseon shook violently.
The Ten Thousand Mountains Defense Seal!
A golden disc appeared beneath his feet. Mountains around him trembled as ocher energy surged into the disc.
The golden disc vibrated violently, releasing a burst of light brighter than the sun.
The celestial woman's sword had already reached the disc. People braced for an explosion.
But!
As the water sword slowly neared the golden disc, the disc suddenly emitted a brilliant light in all directions and vanished. The celestial woman's sword continued toward the stunned Rujoo at the same speed as before.
The Rujoo, having lost all will to resist, stopped as the sword hovered before his forehead.
The celestial woman remained motionless, facing away.
Complete defeat.
In a single strike, the Rujoo was vanquished.