Characters[]
- Jin Woonhwi (Sodamgeom) (Namcheomcheomgeom)
- Sima Young
- Jo Seong-Won
- Hae Ak-Cheon
- Twice Brothres
- Ha Moon-chan
- Lee Gyu
- Baek Hye-Hyang
- Blacksmith (no name)
Synopsis[]
Novel[]
Before returning to the Martial Arts Federation, during a major battle, the leader Baek Hyang-muk gave an inspiring speech. At the climax of his words, he unsheathed his legendary sword, Muksen, to boost the morale of his warriors. This powerful image remained etched in the protagonist’s memory, and he later came across similar swords, all of which displayed a unique pattern of circular spots on the blade.
However, the swords he found were trapped in a giant incense burner, all cracked or on the verge of falling apart. None of them were in perfect condition, making them practically unusable weapons. Some seemed to beg for their own destruction, as if their existence were an unbearable burden.
Curious, the protagonist asked about the source of this suffering. Namcheon Iron Sword replied that even they themselves did not fully understand the reason. To get a more concrete answer, Sodamgeom suggested that he touch one of the swords. Although hesitant, the similarity between these swords and Muhan Jeilgeom, one of the Eight Great Masters, led him to follow the advice.
As soon as he touched the blade, a shiver ran through his body. The sword's scream invaded his mind, filled with anger and resentment. Even with this emotional outburst, the protagonist realized something unexpected: the sword possessed a fragile ego, as if it had just been born. The blade continued to beg for its own destruction, unable to hear any response.
Suddenly, a blue light flashed in his hand, and his vision became blurred. A memory took shape before his eyes. He saw himself in the same place, but in the distant past, when Baek Hyang-muk visited the smithy. The leader of the Martial Arts Federation held a newly forged sword, while the craftsman, previously fallen from drinking, was now standing, fully conscious.
Through the sword's eyes, he witnessed the legendary swordsman demonstrating his technique. Every movement was perfect, his mastery so great that not even Namcheon Geomgyeok could rival him. Baek Hyang-muk's Silent True Sword was at the pinnacle of martial technique, a rare gift in the world of martial arts.
Hyang-muk's performance was impressive, but as he finished, he made an unexpected decision. He pressed two fingers against the blade and, with one precise strike, split the sword in half. The blade screamed in agony, turning red with a murderous aura. The swordsman, however, remained unmoved. His killing intent was momentarily released, but soon returned to his usual calm. With a look of satisfaction, he left the smithy, while the craftsman, removing the blindfold from his eyes, looked at the broken sword with a bitter expression.
The vision dissipated, and the protagonist returned to reality. Now he understood the reason for the sword's suffering: it was forged for a purpose, but discarded as soon as it was born. His existence was cut short without ever having fulfilled his duty.
He tried to comfort her. His words were met with a final scream, and then the blade crumbled into dust. The protagonist was puzzled, wondering why the sword had self-destructed. He realized that other swords might be going through the same torment.
Before he could think any further, the blacksmith's craftsman approached. To his surprise, the man was not angry about the sword's breakage, but rather impressed. He asked the protagonist to destroy the other swords trapped in the incense burner.
Despite his surprise, the protagonist accepted. The craftsman offered him payment, but he refused. In exchange, he requested the restoration of the Namcheon Iron Sword. The craftsman examined the blade and noticed that it was mixed with rust, possibly from having been abandoned in a damp place for years. He promised to restore it in five to six days.
With that settled, the protagonist returned to the inn to tell Sima Young and Jo Seong-won about his progress. However, something continued to bother him: the murderous aura that dyed the blade red. This did not suit Baek Hyang-muk, who always strived for perfection. Could there possibly be a hidden influence?
As he walked through the streets, a hooded youth caught his eye. The stranger blocked his path and tried to grab his wrist. In response, the protagonist dodged, but the youth demonstrated impressive skills, managing to deftly catch him.
The instant their hands touched, the protagonist was shocked. The youth's strength was unbelievable, and he pushed him into an alley. Before he could react, a familiar voice came out of the youth's mouth:
"You... You were alive?"
To his shock, he recognized the voice. It was Baek Hye-hyang, one of the two candidates for the position of leader of the Blood Cult, Baekryeonha's rival. The unexpected meeting raised even more questions: why was she there? And what did she know about his supposed death?
Thus, a new piece of the puzzle fell into place, but other questions arose. The past of the broken swords, Baek Hyang-muk's murderous aura, and the appearance of Baek Hye-hyang indicated that even more complex events were about to unfold.