Characters[]
Synopsis[]
Novel[]
In a dark and secluded cave, Han Ji-sang, a man marked by tragedy, finds himself face to face with a young descendant of the legendary Swordsman Namcheon. The conversation between the two is filled with tension and dark secrets. The young man, curious and cautious, questions Han Ji-sang's presence there, but the latter responds evasively, mentioning only that it was the result of a futile ambition.
Han Ji-sang, despite his tragic history, wishes to ask the young man a favor. He believes that, as a descendant of the Swordsman Namcheon, the young man must follow a straight and just path. However, the descendant hesitates, because although his lineage is noble, his current path is closer to the shadows and the underworld. Nevertheless, he agrees to hear Han Ji-sang's request.
The mutilated man reveals his pain. He lost his legs, cut off by a mysterious opponent, and in a desperate act of survival, he sacrificed his own right arm to avoid succumbing to starvation. He describes the horror of loneliness and how it eats away at the human mind, driving him to the brink of madness. His voice trembles with bitter memories, confessing that, over time, he could no longer tell whether he was still himself or just a shred of sanity about to be lost.
Before madness consumes him completely, Han Ji-sang asks the young man to find something inside his cloak. The descendant of the Namcheon Swordsman finds a piece of leather with mysterious inscriptions, which he soon realizes is human skin. Han Ji-sang explains that it contains all of his experiences, his martial art and his history, and asks that it be given to his son. However, he later reveals that he has no son and that it was all just a test to see which choice the young man would make.
The descendant accepts the request, but refuses the treasures offered by Han Ji-sang, wishing only to honor the name of his master, the Swordsman Namcheon. Faced with this answer, Han Ji-sang smiles sadly, knowing that his own search for redemption was in vain. In a final act, he takes his own life by biting his tongue, refusing to continue his existence as a being consumed by insanity.
The young man watches his death in silence, without preventing the act. He feels a mixture of respect and compassion for the man who was once a great warrior, but who succumbed to the shadows of his own mind. In a gesture of gratitude, he sits him against the wall of the cave and bows in reverence.
During the night, the young man studies the inscriptions written on the skin. There, he discovers Han Ji-sang's technique, the "Flying Shadow Sword Technique", which makes use of a special artifact known as the Silver Lotus, an incredibly strong and flexible silver thread. At dawn, he decides to test the power of this technique, using it to escape from the valley. He ties the small sword to the silver wire and throws it at the cliff wall. Using the elasticity of the wire, he propels himself through the air, crossing distances in an impressive way. As he practices using the artifact, he realizes that he can use it for both locomotion and combat. The young man feels that, with time and training, he will completely master the new technique. Meanwhile, in another part of the valley, a group of warriors surrounds a young man wearing a yellow turban. The leader of the group, a bearded man, accuses the young man of wanting to join the Blood Sect, considered an enemy of the martial arts world. The young man, however, retorts with sharp arguments, questioning the legitimacy of the persecution of the sect's followers. The tension increases and the leader orders the attack on the young man. However, before the fight begins, one of the men sees something unbelievable. High above the valley, a figure moves through the air, flying between the cliffs. The group watches in astonishment, unable to comprehend what they are seeing. The descendant of the Namcheon Swordsman, now armed with his new technique, traverses the empty space with grace and precision, giving the impression that he is flying.
The warriors express surprise and awe, murmuring about the legends of the supreme martial arts. Meanwhile, the young man in the yellow turban, who was about to be attacked, smiles at the sight. He realizes that this unexpected appearance could completely change the course of the confrontation.
Thus, fate begins to change once again, and a new chapter begins for those who witness the rise of a new master of the shadows.
Manhwa[]
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- He was taught by Han Jisang about the Hero-Annihilating Flying Blade Technique.