Lee Jung-Gyeom is one of two New Stars that said to be genius who came once every hundred years.
Background[]
Years before the events of Absolute Sword Sense, Baek Hyang-Muk pursued the infamous madman known as The Cruel Killer. The pursuit team discovered him massacring villagers in a remote settlement. What followed was a brutal confrontation between the deranged killer and the Orthodox Murim Alliance forces, a battle so fierce that only two survivors remained: Baek Hyang-Muk himself and a traumatized orphan boy who had lost everything.
The shocking truth soon emerged: Jeol Sim was not human, but the cursed Plundering-Killing Sword, forever seeking new vessels to continue its endless slaughter. The weapon set its sights on young Lee Jung-Gyeom, but rather than forcing possession, it exploited the greed of the Orthodox faction's hero. The sword's expectations proved correct, Baek Hyang-Muk tempted by the prospect of mastering the Sword of Death and gaining its legendary power, made repeated secret attempts to control it.
Then came the fatal mistake. During one such attempt, a Taoist monk assisting him became possessed and delivered the sword directly into Lee Jung-Gyeom's hands. The corruption took hold instantly. Before the blade could be secured, the boy - now under its influence - slaughtered dozens of innocents in mere moments. Only his master's swift intervention disarmed him.
Ordinarily, those possessed by the sword regain their senses if separated quickly enough. But Lee Jung-Gyeom proved the exception, his energy-sensitive constitution while resisting full assimilation, paradoxically allowed the sword's influence to take deeper root. Where others might have awakened unscathed, his brief contact spawned something far more dangerous: a fully formed alter ego, The Cruel Killer, its hunger for reunion with the weapon grew within his mind.
Moved by pity and recognizing the boy's divine-gifted potential, Baek Hyang-Muk concealed the massacre from the Orthodox Murim Alliance. Realizing the grave danger, he abandoned his quest to tame the sword and hid it in a remote, inaccessible location. He then entrusted Lee Jung-Gyeom to his old friend, the Wudang Sect Leader, whose Taoist techniques could suppress the emerging darkness.
Thus, Lee Jung-Gyeom became a dual disciple of two of the Eight Great Warriors. Under Jeong Seon's guidance, he trained in Wudang techniques while the master used his energy to suppress the murderous alter ego. Still, Lee Jung-Gyeom knew it wasn't enough. Desperate, he sought the All-Healing Divine Physician, though the extent of the doctor's aid remains unclear. The only evidence of progress was the physician's possession of the Cruel Killer's Token - seen later when Hae Ak-Cheon attempted to repair Jin Woon-Hwi's energy core in Six Blood Valley.
Plot[]
Lee Jung-Gyeom's struggles remained a closely guarded secret, known only to a select few. Most, including Jin Woon-Hwi initially, believed he was simply the sole co-disciple of two Eight Great Warriors - being groomed as Orthodox Path's next leader and hero. While Lee cared nothing for fame, only seeking to heal his fractured psyche, he nevertheless played his role as the 'New Star' flawlessly. His innate talents and extraordinary physique left him feeling no competitive drive toward his peers... until he crossed paths with Jin Woon-Hwi at the Orthodox Murim Alliance tournament. This lone exception - the only other warrior awarded the 'New Star' title for outstanding performance - irrevocably captured his attention.
Their next encounter occurred during another martial arts tournament - this time at the Dual Martial Forces compound. Lee Jung-Gyeom participated at his master's request, who also happened to be the Orthodox Murim Alliance leader. This decision was purely political: the alliance between Orthodox Murim and Dual Martial Forces had been severed due to a scandal caused by the Orthodox side. Lee's mission was to mend relations by winning the junior division tournament, whose grand prize was the opportunity to become an official disciple and successor to one of the Dual Martial Forces leaders - the Heartless Wind God, Jin Song-Baek. Unexpectedly, he spotted Jin Woon-Hwi competing under a false identity and disguise. Yet Lee recognized him immediately due to his exceptional sensitivity to energy signatures. Though he identified his rival's unique aura, he chose to play along, assuming Woon-Hwi must have compelling reasons for concealing his identity - reasons he wouldn't interfere with.
He relished competing against the only other New Star titleholder. Each challenge at the pagoda's higher floors, every frantic race against Jin Woon-Hwi, brought him genuine joy. So when his rival's lineage was publicly exposed before the Dual Martial Forces assembly, Lee Jung-Gyeom felt no resentment, only growing kinship. Finally, he'd found someone who shared his burden: another soul bearing terrible secrets and curses. Jin Woon-Hwi with his Blood Demon heritage, and Lee himself, corrupted by the Plundering-Killing Sword's energy.
This connection compelled him to guard Jin's secrets, even from his own master. He never revealed that 'So Woon-Hwi' was the Heartless Wind God's son and heir to the Storm Shadow Eight Forms Order. Yet in that moment, he remained unaware of deeper truths: that Woon-Hwi belonged to the Blood Cult... that he was being groomed as the next Blood Demon... and that he would eventually become the Blood Demon himself.
Following the events at Dual Martial Forces involving Mu Ak's capture, Lee Jung-Gyeom parted ways with Jin Woon-Hwi on peaceful and amicable terms. He even declined Heartless Wind God's offer to compensate him with martial arts techniques for the interrupted tournament - caused by both the sudden war with Mu Ak and the unexpected appearance of the sect leader's son. Lee found complete satisfaction in having truly understood his rival and uncovered his secret, which gave him the profound realization that he wasn't alone - that someone else shared a similar burden.
Before returning to the Orthodox Murim Alliance, Lee openly asked Jin Woon-Hwi if he harbored hatred or a desire for vengeance against the entire Orthodox faction. Woonhwi replied honestly that while he wouldn't hide his resentment toward the Orthodox Path, he had no intention of seeking indiscriminate revenge or spilling unnecessary blood to avoid further tragedies. This answer deeply pleased Lee Jung-Gyeom, and the two ultimately parted as friends.
They met again only after many months - though for Jin Woon-Hwi, due to his time in Dohwaseon, it had been years. The man who returned was fundamentally changed: no longer the Second New Star, but publicly recognized as the newest of the Eight Great Warriors, while in truth having become the Descendant of the Sword Immortal. Their reunion proved extraordinary, as they found themselves battling together against a demonic doppelgänger of Lee Jung-Gyeom - identical yet twisted into a true demonic form.
During this confrontation, shocking truths emerged: it was never the real Lee Jung-Gyeom who killed the Taiji Sword Emperor or stole the Plundering-Killing Sword, but his dark counterpart. Woon-Hwi, wielding abilities gained in the Paradise of the Ancient Immortals, used his Voice of the Sword technique to purge the corrupting energy of the Sword of Death that had created Lee's murderous alter ego.
Beyond this liberation, Lee finally confessed to his master the truth about Jin Woon-Hwi's heritage as heir to Dual Martial Forces. This revelation came paired with his disturbing discovery: Jin had also become the new leader of the Blood Cult. To Lee, this represented a dire threat - Jin now controlled two of the three major factions from the shadows and aspired to lead the Orthodox Murim Alliance as well.
Both Lee Jung-Gyeom and Baek Hyang-Muk openly expressed concerns that the Blood Demon might conquer the Central Plains without even waging war. But the Descendant of the Sword Immortal countered bluntly: This is better than crushing the Murim Alliance by force. Don't complain - neither of you are blameless. One became one of the Four Great Evils, slaughtering innocents; the other enabled it through greed and deception - all under the banner of righteousness. You've no high ground to stand on.
In the end, they conceded to his logic, forced to confront their own past hypocrisy. They agreed to honor their earlier bargain - pledging to support him so long as he refrained from slaughtering innocents or Murim Alliance members for mere political gain.
Martial Arts[]
Corrupted by the Sword of Death's energy and consciousness, Lee Jung-Gyeom has acquired some of the weapon's abilities. The most significant is the Scripture of Transferring True Qi - a technique where he draws a glowing circle in mid-air that nullifies martial arts attacks. More remarkably, it can then redirect the blocked energy back at the attacker. This makes it particularly effective against stronger opponents.
Due to his unique condition, Lee Jung-Gyeom spent little time training under his first master, Baek Hyang-Muk. As a result, most of his martial arts don't originate from him. Given his unstable state, he was primarily cared for by Jeong Seon instead. This is why Lee Jung-Gyeom's martial arts foundation stems mainly from the Wudang Sect. Beyond standard techniques, he also knows several skills from mortal realm Taoists. However, his most formidable abilities derive from the cursed sword's power and his body's innate constitution.
Weapon[]
Though Lee Jung-Gyeom only briefly wielded the Plundering-Killing Sword, its corruption lingers. The blade forged within him a dark alter ego - the Cruel Killer - that relentlessly seeks reunion with its other half in form of sword itself.
His case is exceptional - typically, those separated from the cursed sword regain their senses permanently, provided they weren't exposed too long and their minds weren't fully corrupted. Yet Lee Jung-Gyeom, despite wielding the Demonic Sword only briefly, was profoundly affected due to his innate sensitivity to the world's energy. From birth, he's possessed a natural ability to comprehend both his own energy and others' at the level of martial artists who have Crossed the Wall.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- His original name is Asam, his master was the one who named him Lee Jung-Gyeom.