Luoyang Sword Clan. In front of the main gate of Wongakjeong, just moments ago, the Sword Clan Armed Generals had been making a fuss about their bruised shins from the War Department Chief’s kick or boasting with exaggerated anticipation about facing Grand Young Master Yeon So-hyeon’s martial arts. Their mouths snapped shut in a single, hard line.

They felt it. No, because it was them, they couldn’t help but feel it.

“This is,” one of the older martial masters spoke, his tone thick with disbelief.

‘This isn’t the Grand Young Master’s residence…’

The energies radiating from within Wongakjeong made their skin tingle and the hair on their heads stand on end. ‘This feels like returning to a battlefield,’ they thought. It was a feeling that made the hair on the back of their necks stand up straight, as if an enemy army was about to launch a surprise attack under the cover of dawn. It was a feeling of their hearts constricting, just like the moment they had no choice but to charge into an enemy’s surrounding formation. It was a feeling of hands drenched in sweat from the tension that filled the air just before a great battle, as both camps’ soldiers waited.

Just like those days.

‘The air feels like it’s about to ignite.’

The bodies of the old generals were reacting reflexively.

And.

“Well, look at this.”

Because of this.

“If it isn’t the politicians of the War Department.”

When they ran into the members of the Sword Forest, who were approaching from the opposite direction at the main gate, they were not particularly surprised.

When the Sword Clan Armed Generals remained silent, a one-eyed warrior, just as old as the seasoned generals, stepped forward and continued, “Politicians should remain in their designated places. Return to your filthy Council of Elders and engage in your usual dirty politics.” The one-eyed warrior bared his teeth fiercely, his snarl echoing like that of a beast. “What compels you to come all the way out here?”

The War Department and the Sword Forest. One might assume these two groups would get along well, given their similar natures. However, they were like dogs and monkeys.

“Second Seat of the Sword Forest, Geom Gwi-hon… Are you about to start a fight the moment we meet?”

Most would have avoided a fight with a warrior from the Sword Forest. But the men standing before him were the old generals of the War Department.

“Shall I gouge out that remaining eyeball of yours? You won’t be able to see anything then. Why don’t you get a good look at the world while you still can?”

In an instant, the Sword Clan Armed Generals gripped the hilts of their swords, their eyes narrowing.

“A fight?” Amidst that ferocious killing intent, the one-eyed warrior, Geom Gwi-hon, shrugged nonchalantly. “This is merely the truth.” Despite his casual demeanor, he had already gripped his sword hilt, subtly lowering his stance and securing his footing. “Elders, this, that… obsessed with your political games, intoxicated by power, wealth, and glory… you old men who have forgotten the essence of being a warrior of the Sword Clan…!”

Like gunpowder catching a spark, Geom Gwi-hon’s sharp, blue-edged spirit exploded forth. “What face do you have to accuse us of the Sword Forest—who have walked only this single, pure path—of starting a fight?!”

Simultaneously with that roar, the Sword Forest warriors, clad in a variety of different attire, stepped forward. The sound of clang-clang-clang echoed, as if to say no more conversation was needed. The sound of swords being drawn filled the air.

“Ha…!”

The Sword Forest warriors weren’t the only ones with an explosive temperament. The old generals erupted in loud laughter, their white hair seemingly shooting upward.

“A bunch of brats who don’t even know a real battlefield! You dare… draw your swords in front of us?!”

Their beards fluttered in streaks, even though there was no wind.

“You bastards—!”

In that instant, the energies of the masters collided in mid-air, unleashing a violent wind that swept through the area. The hard paving stones of the main road cracked in all directions like a spiderweb, kicking up dust.

“G-Get back!”

The onlookers, who had been curiously peeking at the Wongakjeong main gate, mistaking it for just another part of the festival, scattered in terror.

“We’ll get caught in it…!”

“Kyaaaak!”

A clash between the Sword Forest and the War Department had begun. This was a problem on a completely different level from drunken, ordinary warriors stumbling around and crossing swords.

Crash—!

Amidst the screams of the panicked crowd, stalls were overturned, food was sent flying into the air, people were knocked over in the stampede, and in an instant, the street in front of Wongakjeong transformed into a scene of pandemonium.

“We’ll chop you all into pieces right here—!”

A hair-trigger situation.

Cha-cha-chang-!

In that very instant, as they all drew their swords halfway from their scabbards, without knowing who would strike first, a furious roar erupted from the Chief of the War Department. It shattered their murderous cries and resonated through their eardrums, shaking the ground. The sound was so powerful that the blue blades of their swords began to howl.

“E-NOUGH-!”

They all had to hastily redirect the internal power they had raised to tame their thrashing swords. Distinguishing neither friend nor foe, the shout that made their hair stand on end stopped everyone in their tracks.

“All of you…” The Chief of the War Department, his gaze sweeping over each of their faces, spoke with a voice heavy with internal energy. “Have you forgotten where you are?”

As the blood that had rushed to their heads began to recede, everyone immediately grasped their situation.

Sometime, around them, where the fleeing onlookers had been, the Wongakjeong defense forces had gathered, forming a half-circle that almost surrounded them.

Each of them had some kind of physical deficiency. One was missing an arm, another a leg. But every single one of them was a person who had crossed the wall. Those physical deficiencies were not felt as weaknesses or shortcomings at all; instead, they gently radiated a terrifying energy.

“…The Main Clan’s Special Task Force.”

There was no way the Sword Forest warriors and the old generals of the War Department would not recognize them.

“…I momentarily forgot that this was Wongakjeong.”

But that wasn’t all. While the Sword Forest warriors and the old generals were groaning inwardly, the figures of the Wongakjeong handmaidens, drawing their sharp, blue swords and unleashing a fierce killing intent, added themselves behind the Special Task Force members.

“Haha, well… this is a right mess.”

With a chilling voice.

“They say a big feast is bound to have a big disturbance.”

The man who appeared was surrounded by five floating swords.

Those who instantly recognized him… felt their eyebrows shoot up at his raw, ferocious killing intent.

“Life-Stealing Ghost Sword.”

Chareureung.

Beside him. The sound of chains dragging on the ground with a heavy, sticky thud. At the end of those chains, a pair of sickles radiated an ominous energy. The middle-aged man holding the twin sickles said nothing. But a clear anger was felt beneath his desolate face.

“Those twin sickles.”

“Is that the man they call the ‘Headhunter of the Ancient Tea Horse Road’—Tang Baek?”

And the man who appeared with Tang Baek was less a person, And more like a great mountain range, a general capable of felling a thousand foes.

“Sword Pinnacle Crushes the Mountain.”

“Yeom Gwak-chu…”

Before the situation could get any worse, The Chief of the War Department stepped forward. “Elder Yeom.”

To the Chief of the War Department, who was clasping his hands to bow, Elder Yeom raised his hand first. “Your apology should not be directed to me, but to the master of this Wongakjeong.”

And with that. As Elder Yeom took a step back.

“Everyone.” The figure who had been following behind Elder Yeom was revealed. “Are you enjoying the festival?”

Even those combative Sword Forest warriors, Even those haughty old generals of the War Department, who were in no way inferior to them, No one dared, To be the first to speak in front of the Grand Young Master, Yeon So-hyeon, who had revealed himself.

Was it because of the awkwardness of being a guest who had thrown cold water on the party?

Or was it,

Because of the mysterious presence he exuded, clear and powerful, even without raising a single trace of internal power?

While everyone was frozen, The Chief of the War Department and the Second Seat of the Sword Forest, Geom Gwi-hon, managed to come to their senses and stepped forward.

“We greet the Grand Young Master of the Main Clan.”

“We greet the Grand Young Master of the Main Clan.”

And to the Chief of the War Department, who was about to express his apology—

“Grand Young Master. The sin of us causing a disturbance—”

“It is fine, Chief of the War Department.”

—Grand Young Master Yeon So-hyeon raised his hand. He continued in a light tone, as if it were no big deal. “The warriors of the Main Clan, full of vigor, are having a conversation with their swords. What problem is there with that?”

He smiled as he looked around the assembly. “When my father was still hale and hearty… brawls often broke out in the main assembly when opinions clashed.”

It was a story from, at most, About ten years ago.

“Some days, there was no meeting at all. The day just ended after brawling from morning till evening.”

The Grand Young Master let out a hearty, refreshing laugh.

However.

Unlike Yeon So-hyeon’s refreshing laughter, The story he told, Felt like a tale from a long, distant past to them.

“…It was like that.”

Those who had been there could not laugh along with him.

“Your feelings…” Suddenly, Yeon So-hyeon’s expression softened into a warm smile as he looked at them. “I know them well.”

In that smile, and in those few short words, There was something that soothed the hearts of these warriors, who had been cast out by the era and the situation.

“…Grand Young Master.”

Just as the Chief of the War Department was about to say something—

“Wait a moment.” The Grand Young Master, cutting off the conversation, lightly kicked off the ground. In a single leap, he landed on top of the main gate of Wongakjeong.

While everyone was stunned by his sublime movement technique Yeon So-hyeon shouted to the street.

“Are you all enjoying the festival?”

But naturally, there was no answer. The Grand Young Master’s appearance had instantly quelled the disturbance. But the people enjoying the festival on the street, who hadn’t even been able to enter Wongakjeong… Dared not step forward and answer the Grand Young Master.

“Oh, dear…” A soft click of the tongue from the Grand Young Master, sounding regretful. “My father once said The only reason a festival is unsatisfactory…” reached the ears of every single person as clearly as if he were standing right next to them. “Is because there is not enough food and drink…!”

Simultaneously with those words, The handmaidens, who had been on standby, rushed out of the main gate and began to distribute alcohol and food.

“This food and drink was for the guests inside Wongakjeong. But I, as the host of this festival offer this to everyone as a token of my apology for the small disturbance.”

He spread his arms and laughed heartily.

“Now, the festival continues!”

At his signal, the musicians began to play their instruments, and the pyrotechnicians, cued, set off firecrackers that exploded loudly in all directions.

“So, everyone! Until the dawn breaks enjoy yourselves to your heart’s content!”

A cheer erupted from the street.