Chapter 17
The White Sword Sect.
It was known as a righteous faction that valued chivalry, with a renowned reputation throughout the Central Plains.
Above all, the Sect Leader of the White Sword Sect was praised by many for leading efforts to aid the poor in the region.
However...
It was late one night.
"Kuheheh..."
"Urrrgh..."
The White Sword Sect had been reduced to utter chaos.
Countless White Sword Sect warriors lay strewn across the floor, bleeding and groaning in agony.
What on earth was happening here?
BOOM!
The doors of the White Sword Sect's grand central hall, known for their elegance and majesty, were blown apart as if by an explosion.
Through the cloud of dust from the blast walked a man.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Those slow yet relentless footsteps sounded indescribably terrifying.
"White Sword Sect Leader Ju Dogyun."
"Wh-wh-who are you?"
A man with a long, neatly trimmed beard drew his sword, not even properly dressed.
Behind him on a large bed cowered several young girls, barely past childhood.
There appeared to be at least five of them.
The masked man who had come to the White Sword Sect in the dead of night narrowed his eyes.
"Ha! Who would have imagined? That you, who outwardly pretend to live for righteousness and chivalry, are actually a filthy lecher committing all manner of depraved acts behind closed doors."
"H-How dare you! Do you think you can do this and escape unscathed?!"
"What do I have to fear from you? Ah, perhaps I should fear the Fallen Heaven sect you've allied with?"
"Wh-what nonsense are you spouting?!"
It was a top secret deal that no one was supposed to know about.
Yet this man casually mentioned it as if it were common knowledge, shocking Ju Dogyun who shouted denials.
Seeing this reaction, the masked man's eyes curved in amusement.
"Ah, perhaps you're expecting them to come to your aid? But what a shame. I already slaughtered all that trash before coming here."
"Wh-what? Don't lie, you bastard! How could you alone defeat all the Fallen Heaven warriors?!"
"Oh? Did you just admit to allying with Fallen Heaven?"
"Urk."
Realizing he'd been tricked into confessing, Ju Dogyun stumbled back.
As if to close the distance that had opened between them, the man walked steadily towards Ju Dogyun.
This man was Yeo Un-hwi.
Why was he carrying out such a massacre?
The reason was that he knew facts no one else did.
And even events that would occur in the future.
The White Sword Sect and Fallen Heaven.
Due to these groups' schemes, a small rural village called Sodam would burn to the ground in a few years.
And on that day, Yeo Un-hwi lost his daughter Yul.
As the number of women they had kidnapped and killed grew too large, they spread rumors that the culprit was in Sodam Village to throw off and deceive the Murim Alliance which had begun investigating.
And before the Murim Alliance could even verify those rumors, the White Sword Sect colluded with Fallen Heaven to burn down Sodam Village, framing it as an unavoidable sacrifice in their efforts to catch the culprit.
As a result, all the innocent people of Sodam Village met their deaths that day.
That tiny village in the most remote corner of the Central Plains was erased for no reason, all because of trash martial artists.
This was the truth that Yeo Un-hwi from his past life, blinded by revenge after that day, had uncovered while investigating the truth behind Yul's death.
So the ones responsible for Sodam Village and Yul's deaths were right before his eyes now.
"Well, whether what I said is true or not doesn't really matter to you."
"Wh-what do you mean..."
"After tonight, the White Sword Sect will also disappear from the martial world."
The masked man grinned.
Though his face was hidden behind a mask, Ju Dogyun felt as if he could see that grin.
For the first time since taking this position, Ju Dogyun felt his skin crawl with fear.
This man before him seemed more terrifying than the Grim Reaper himself.
Trembling, he looked into Yeo Un-hwi's eyes.
Those curved eyes burned with a horrific killing intent.
Only then did Ju Dogyun realize that the man before him was not simply an assassin sent by someone.
Nor was he someone who had come out of a sense of righteousness.
The emotion this man harbored was revenge and rage.
"Urgh... S-stay back! You bastard!"
Ju Dogyun swung his sword wildly.
But the masked man easily deflected the blade and immediately struck Ju Dogyun's face with the back of his hand.
WHAM!
CRASH!
Sent flying into the wall, broken teeth fell from Ju Dogyun's mouth.
Half his face seemed to have been shattered by that single blow.
Terrible pain assaulted him.
"Urrrgh..."
"My, you shouldn't be in such pain yet. We're only just beginning."
Ju Dogyun rolled his eyes, clutching his face.
This man was a master.
One beyond imagination.
He had already realized it when this man single-handedly devastated the White Sword Sect and calmly entered his chambers, but he was far beyond what Ju Dogyun had imagined.
Perhaps his claim of single-handedly annihilating Fallen Heaven was true after all.
Which meant that he himself no longer had anywhere to turn.
How could such a being suddenly appear?
Meanwhile, the masked man, Yeo Un-hwi, slowly approached him.
"No matter what I do, it won't be nearly enough, but you'd best not think you'll die easily today. Above all, because I won't allow it."
"N-no..."
Ju Dogyun quickly tried to bite his tongue.
He didn't want to die, but he hated the thought of enduring terrible torture only to die in the end even more.
That thought drove him to attempt suicide for the first time in his life.
But,
Tap, tap.
Yeo Un-hwi's hand was faster.
With a flick of his fingers, he sent out a burst of wind energy that instantly paralyzed Ju Dogyun's body.
"Not a chance. Not a chance at all."
"Urk."
"Now then, let me show you what true hell is like."
"Urgh, urrrgh!"
Yeo Un-hwi's hand slowly covered Ju Dogyun's face.
It felt as if the scent of sulfur emanated from that hand.
That was the last thing Ju Dogyun remembered with a clear mind.
Now it was time to taste hellish agony.
This was something only Yeo Un-hwi could do.
To honor the souls of the Sodam Village people who died miserably in his past life.
And for the sake of the Sodam Village people who would live on in this life.
That night.
Countless masters of the Orthodox Faction lost their lives.
At the hands of a single masked man.
A few days later.
"No, how can this be happening?"
Voices of disappointment filled the usually peaceful Sodam Village.
For some reason, people's eyes were brimming with tears.
"Yul's family is really leaving the village like this?"
"Where are they going that's so good they have to leave in such a hurry? Why not stay a bit longer?"
"Don't go. Why leave such a nice place?"
Before their eyes stood Yul's family, carrying tightly packed luggage.
"I'm so sorry, truly. I'm sure we'll meet again someday. Thank you so much for everything."
"Ah, don't say such things. We were so happy to have Yul's family here. Isn't that right?"
"That's right. How reassuring it was to have Yul's beautiful mother, lovely Yul, and our clever Yul's father here."
Yeo Un-hwi smiled at all the Sodam Village people who had come to see them off.
Such good people.
After leaving Hebei and enduring many hardships, they had finally arrived at Sodam Village.
Yeo Un-hwi often thought about how grateful and fortunate they were to have found Sodam Village.
Even in his past life, all his happy memories with his wife and Yul were from Sodam Village.
Of course, Sodam Village held a special place in his heart.
So even after deciding to leave for Hebei, he had worked diligently.
He drove out all the mountain bandits in the area and made sure they could never return.
The Yeo Un-hwi they saw that day must have been terror incarnate.
He had also personally taken care of the two groups that would burn down Sodam Village years later.
As far as he knew, there was no one left to threaten Sodam Village now.
All that effort was Yeo Un-hwi's consideration and gift for the people of Sodam Village.
Though no one would ever know, that didn't matter to him.
"Well then, travel safely."
The village chief smiled.
He too wore a bittersweet smile, unable to hide his sadness.
He was the elder who had first taken care of Yeo Un-hwi and Paeng Seo-yeon like family when they arrived in Sodam Village.
"Yes, Elder. Now Yul, you should say goodbye too."
Yul, who had been standing there with a confused look, bowed halfway at her mother's words.
"Goodbye, everyone."
The villagers looked at Yul lovingly.
They all smiled sadly and said a few words.
"Oh my, our pretty Yul. How can you bow so prettily? Yes, take care Yul."
"Always stay healthy, Yul. We'll miss you."
"Yul, Auntie will buy you lots of sweets next time we meet..."
"Oh my, why are you crying when even Yul isn't? You're supposed to be the adult."
"You're right. I'm being silly. Silly."
Hahaha.
"Well, you have a long journey ahead. You should get going."
"Yes. Everyone, please stay healthy."
Paeng Seo-yeon carrying Yul and Yeo Un-hwi laden with luggage said their final goodbyes.
And so Yul's family left Sodam Village.
After walking for some time, Yeo Un-hwi turned his head to look back.
In the distance, the people of Sodam Village were still waving.
If he ever heard news of trouble in Sodam Village, Yeo Un-hwi planned to rush back in an instant.
But for now, it was farewell.
May they all always be happy, and may Sodam Village always remain peaceful.
Yeo Un-hwi sincerely wished as he set off towards Hebei.
It was a new beginning.