The Villa Balcony.
Under the vast canopy of the night sky, Grand Young Master Yeon So-hyeon closed his eyes. Feeling the cool breeze against his skin, he let his mind drift back to his childhood.
The War Department.
The War Department of the Luoyang Sword Clan.
They had shared the rise and fall of the previous Patriarch—Yeon So-hyeon’s father, the man revered as the Greatest Sword under the Heavens.
“The Sword Clan has defeated the Namgung Clan!”
“No one can deny now that the Luoyang Sword Clan is the greatest family under the heavens…!”
From the initial friction with the Namgung Clan that marked the beginning of the previous Patriarch’s Conquest of Jiangnan…
“What did you say…?!”
“Did the Luoyang Sword Clan finally force the Heavenly Wicked Hegemons to submit?!”
…to the war against the Heavenly Wicked Hegemons, the final destination of that bloody crusade. The War Department had assisted the previous Patriarch from the closest proximity, sharing in every victory and every moment of glory.
The War Department of the Luoyang Sword Clan was not merely the armed group of a great clan. They were an organization capable of waging comprehensive war, not just simple battles. True to its name, the War Department was the most efficient, massive, and powerful entity capable of executing all political and administrative functions necessary to wage war.
“Gather every scrap of information on the Sword Clan’s War Department!”
Countless factions, clans, and even forces from overseas were feverish with desperation to acquire intelligence on them. However, the more they investigated, the more they researched, and the more they learned, the deeper their despair grew.
“…This.”
“…It is impossible to imitate.”
“Even knowing the method, it is too difficult…”
Overwhelming financial power. Mighty influence encompassing the entire Central Plains. Countless combat experiences, bold investments, and research beyond imagination. The only entity capable of sustaining such a structure was the Luoyang Sword Clan.
However.
“It is a disaster!”
Unlike the glory and honor they had built, their decline came suddenly.
“The Patriarch has collapsed!”
When the Patriarch fell, the clan submerged into chaos. Those who honestly did their jobs were pushed out of the places they deserved to be, while those who pursued profit through unjust means formed factions, gaining power and rising in the world.
In the Luoyang Sword Clan, where the giant pillar known as the Patriarch had disappeared, the rot began with trivial things. Later, it extended to crucial elements, damaging the very purpose of the department’s establishment. The resources and finances held by the War Department were dismantled and scattered.
“I apologize. I have a family back home who looks only to me…”
Many warriors left the War Department in search of glory and honor elsewhere.
“I am sorry. Orders to reduce personnel have come down from above.”
Even those who did not wish to leave were forced to go.
And so, after everything was dismantled and shattered to pieces, only a remnant remained.
“All that is left to us is a single sword.”
Unaware that the young Grand Young Master Yeon So-hyeon was watching from the bushes, hiding his presence, the War Department Chief showed the remaining few the weapon he held.
“In the first place, what else does a warrior need other than this single sword?”
As if in answer, instead of words, all the warriors of the War Department raised their swords above their heads in unison.
***
The Present.
Compared to their golden age, the warriors of the War Department were now reduced to a small, elite minority. Yet, they sprinted across the campsite of the Northern tribes with terrifying speed.
My feet are light…!
The masterpiece of the Sichuan Tang Clan, the Six-Color Net Boots, were perfect beyond the need for explanation.
My whole body is light…!
The heavy plate armor wrapping their bodies was weighty, but because it was a supreme grade product custom-made for each individual, the center of balance was exquisite. Beyond that, all combat equipment was supported and supplied by Grand Young Master Yeon So-hyeon.
“As you know, deployment is being delayed due to political issues.”
To hinder the Grand Young Master, the vested interests of the Sword Clan had used every trick to delay the mobilization of full-scale armed groups, even after he had effectively departed alone.
“However, there is something we can do now.”
The Grand Young Master had departed for the North a step ahead to catch the enemy off guard. During the time when the main troops could not depart, he utilized that period to pour tremendous support into the armed groups, especially the War Department.
“Hahaha! All of this! Is Eldest Brother’s reward for the time of endurance you have withstood!”
Just as the Fourth Young Master, who had visited the War Department and shouted loudly, had said, Grand Young Master Yeon So-hyeon gave the War Department every ounce of support they needed.
However, more than all that material support…
It is light…!
What the warriors of the War Department were most grateful to the Grand Young Master for was this:
The sword is light…!
The single sword they had sharpened and sharpened again. Tempered and tempered again. He gave them the opportunity to use it on a battlefield as warriors of the War Department.
[The enemy warriors are in a scattered formation. It is a typical charge formation of the Northern tribes.]
[Response: Operation C. Execute Operation C.]
Information was transmitted to the War Department warriors in detail via sound transmission.
[Ten steps to impact.]
[Prepare for shock.]
“Haa, haa!”
They knew without looking to the side. Right now, no colleague was slowing their charge, suppressed by the enemy’s fighting spirit. Rather, they were putting even more power into their steps.
[Four steps.]
The moment they passed the point where even the rough skin of the enemies from the grasslands became visible, the War Department warriors raised their drawn swords in unison.
Just like that day.
In the first place, what else does a warrior need other than this single sword?
[Two steps.]
Screaming strange cries, the enemy raised their blades with all their strength. Even a single strand of the tassel decorating those blades was visible.
I see it…!
[One step.]
Lower.
The bodies of the War Department warriors, swords raised high, sank lower.
Here we go…!
All those humiliating times. All those difficult and painful moments. Countless memories flashed through the minds of the War Department warriors at once. And finally, what they reached was Selflessness State.
[Impact.]
BOOOOOOOOM!
Could such a sound come from the collision of human bodies? A noise like chariots crashing into chariots rang loudly through the campsite.
“Urgh…!”
“Aaaagh?!”
The screams let out by the warriors of the Northern tribes as they bounced off in all directions were simultaneous.
A posture as low as a swallow skimming the water. The overwhelming weight of heavy plate armor. Speed secured from a sufficient distance. A collision utilizing all of that completely.
The simultaneous charge perfectly pierced the enemy’s gaps and shattered their formation in a single blow.
“Slash.”
With the short instruction of the Sword Clan Armed General, sword light flashed viciously from all directions in unison.
Slash!
This time, there were no simultaneous screams from the enemy. Dead men cannot scream. Severed heads soared into the air, limbs fell, and torsos were torn apart.
“…?!”
“Th-This…”
To think the vanguard formation would be completely shattered in a single collision. At that scene, which they had not expected even slightly, the faces of the Northern tribe’s command turned pale as a sheet.
“I told you, didn’t I?!”
The first-generation disciple of Mount Hua screamed at the Deputy General responsible for command.
“They are not the declined War Department we underestimated, but the elite of the elite!”
Before the words of the first-generation disciple could even be translated, an instruction followed from the Sword Clan Armed General’s mouth.
“Continue charge.”
Even while chopping three people to pieces in a single breath, the Sword Clan Armed General did not slow down in the slightest.
“Do not break formation.”
At that instruction, the War Department warriors, whose postures had inevitably been disrupted by swinging their swords from an extremely low stance, gritted their teeth.
“Hup…!”
“Kuh…!”
One step.
Relying on mental strength and physical ability trained to the limit, they took one long step forward and regained their balance.
“Do not stop your feet.”
The Sword Clan Armed General smiled quietly behind his face guard.
“If you’re late, it’s additional training after the battle.”
Immediately following was the collision with the enemy’s second line.
“Rooooooar—!”
“Uooooo—!”
The enemies swung weapons of all shapes and colors, shouting war cries. But the fear dwelling in their faces could not be erased, and that fear made their bodies heavy.
Clang! Thud! Rip!
The sound of metal clashing with metal and the sound of flesh and leather tearing mixed with the screams of the enemy, ringing through the campsite once more.
[Destruction of enemy second line complete.]
When that sound transmission arrived, the sword of the Sword Clan Armed General, who had reached the third line faster than anyone else, was already howling a cold Resonating Sword.
Vooooooom—
“You aren’t tired already, are you?”
Without looking back, he spoke to his subordinates who were following desperately.
“Just like this. We penetrate straight to the enemy’s center in one breath.”
As if answering his instruction, the swords of the War Department warriors howled a long Resonating Sword in unison.
Hummmmmmmm—.
***
Shenyang. Moyong Clan Villa.
“Grand Young Master.”
Behind the Grand Young Master, who had his eyes closed, came the reporting voice of Head Handmaiden Jeong-ah.
“As instructed, the cleanup of the Shenyang battle has been handed over to the government troops, and our main forces have finished preparations to move.”
“My Liege.”
Xianyu Hyeong-bi, the Governor-General of Jilin, came out to the balcony where the Grand Young Master stood with Head Handmaiden Jeong-ah.
“If you depart with the troops now, you will be able to join the front lines without being too late.”
“Probably…”
Mak Gu-ju, the Governor-General of Liaoning, calculated the distance from Shenyang to the front line in his head.
“It seems possible for you to join the main unit in about two days at the latest.”
“If there is anything we can help with, please tell us anything.”
The Grand Young Master opened his eyes.
“Of course.”
He turned to look at the Governor-Generals.
“There is work you must do.”
Xianyu Hyeong-bi and Mak Gu-ju bowed their heads simultaneously.
“Please.”
“Give us your command.”
The Grand Young Master told them, “You must guard the rear thoroughly.”
“…The rear, you say?”
“Yes, the rear.”
To the Governor-Generals with puzzled expressions, the Grand Young Master spoke calmly. “If I reveal myself on the front lines now, Grand Strategist Sima will try to shake my rear by any means necessary.”
Seeing the two Governor-Generals nod in understanding, he continued. “I have prepared several countermeasures according to the situation in advance, so receive them from the Head Handmaiden.”
“Understood, my Liege.”
As his words ended, suddenly, Xianyu Hyeong-bi felt strange about something he had said.
“By the way, just now. Did you say ‘now’?”
The Grand Young Master, straightening his clothes with the Head Handmaiden’s help, asked, “What about now?”
“You clearly just said that you would reveal yourself on the front lines ‘now’…”
“Right.”
The Grand Young Master laughed.
“Right now.”
“What does that…”
At that moment, the Grand Young Master leaped lightly down from the balcony.
“My Liege?!”
The two Governor-Generals immediately checked over the short railing. But there was only the night wind passing by.
“What is this…?”
“…He has vanished.”
Not even a trace of the Grand Young Master could be found.
“Are we possessed by a goblin…?”
Toward the two Governor-Generals who looked back as if demanding an answer, Head Handmaiden Jeong-ah answered with an expressionless face.
“In a short while, my Master will arrive at the front lines.”
“…?!”
The Governor-Generals could not know.
That it was Dark Flow Transmutation.
The secret that allowed Grand Young Master Yeon So-hyeon to arrive in the North faster than anyone else with his bare body.
It was the moment the technique of the twisted Immortal Realm, recorded in the Scripture that Commands the Dark and Quakes the Heavens, unfolded once again.