1 - The Heaven-Slaying Sword

* * * 〈 Chapter 1 〉 Preface ­ The Blood Chronicle * * * There was a Blood Chronicle(血史). Blood Demon, Dan Chunhwa. He was the ninth leader of the Blood Heaven Sect and a criminal who committed heinous acts that even enraged the heavens. His atrocities prompted the Martial Alliance to take action. The Nine Great Clans, the pillars of justice in the martial world, declared they would sever him, and opened their sects wide. The Five Great Families, reputed as the strongest in the martial world, mobilized their forces and finances to seek out the Blood Heaven Sect. At the forefront of these efforts were certain individuals. Four Saints and Six Kings(四聖六王). These top ten elite warriors of the righteous path, having exerted all their might, finally beheaded the Blood Demon after five years of warfare. Slice­. In the vast and dark main hall. Following the sound of something being sliced, there was a ‘thud’ as something fell. It was the head of the Blood Demon, Dan Chunhwa. “…It is finally over.” The observer of the head spoke. An elderly man with a celestial aura, clad in pristine white attire with matching white hair and beard. When the Sword Saint, Mok Seon-oh, uttered these words, the eyes of those present gathered upon him. Demonic blood dripped from the tip of his immaculate sword to the floor, creating an eerie atmosphere. Yet, there was no fear in their hearts. For at this moment, the vile cycle had been ended, and what they harbored was joy, which was more than enough. Meanwhile, the Sword Saint cast his gaze beyond the fallen body of the Blood Demon at a firmly shut entrance to a side chamber. 'He was trying to guard that place.' Having battled directly with the Blood Demon, he understood something. Despite having the chance to flee, the Blood Demon did not. He simply refused to relinquish something behind him, raising his demonic energy as if in desperation. That’s how he could be defeated. The Sword Saint’s eyes narrowed. What could be there that drove him to such actions? His curiosity surged. Splash­. The Sword Saint stepped into a pool of blood, prompting the one standing behind him to speak. “Brother? Where are you headed?” The man who spoke appeared to be the very image of a beggar, ragged and disheveled. Yet, had he been a mere beggar, he would not stand here. The King of Beggars(乞王), Ma Ilsuk. He was the leader of the Beggars' Union, a key component of the Nine Great Clans. “Just going to take a look around.” “Huh? If that’s the case, let me accompany you. I’ll personally aid you.” “Thank you.” The Sword Saint replied jokingly, and the King of Beggars chuckled heartily and followed him. They passed through the battle-stained hall into the side chamber. When the Sword Saint raised his sword to break open the door, what lay inside was finally visible. His expression hardened. “…A child.” Behind the door was an infant, lying swaddled upon a stone altar. Despite the chaos, the child slept peacefully, undisturbed. ‘Could it be the Blood Demon’s child?’ That was the first thought that crossed the Sword Saint's mind. The notion that even a fiend capable of such atrocities might cherish his own was a fleeting thought, soon discarded. ‘…No. What kind of parent lays their child upon an altar?’ This was undoubtedly an altar. And the air here was saturated with an unmistakable scent of blood. The Sword Saint could easily deduce the purpose of this altar. ‘Sorcery(邪術).’ Most likely, this child was to be used for some foul sorcery. The Sword Saint felt anger rise within him. He approached the altar to save the child. Yet upon lifting the child into his arms, he startled. “Brother?” The King of Beggars called to him as he finally arrived. His expression hardened when he saw the child. There was only one reason for their reaction. The child’s eyes, now open, glowed blood-red. The King of Beggars muttered softly. “Heavenly Slaughter Star….” In the martial world, eyes that gleamed like blood meant one thing. Heavenly Slaughter Star. A star that could plunge the world into chaos just by its presence. The child bore that fate. “Let’s kill it.” The King of Beggars suggested. As the master of the Beggars' Union, known for gathering intelligence across the martial world, he naturally reached this conclusion. “This child could grow into another Blood Demon. Let’s kill it while it’s still a mere infant.” He knew well what calamities those born under this ominous star had wrought upon the martial world. Beyond the borders, the Three Great Heavenly Demons(三大天魔) like Lee Mu-baek drenched the western martial world in blood. Phantom Sword(劍鬼), Seo Woo-jin, who once was a mere vagabond, unified the southern martial world under an unorthodox alliance called the Black Bamboo Union. And then there was Demonic Sword(魔劍), Oh Chun. Born into the prestigious Oh family, he reaped a grim legacy, cutting down a hundred thousand commoners. “Brother, it must be killed now.” The Sword Saint's brow furrowed at the King of Beggars’ insistence. Despite understanding and even agreeing with his reasoning, the fact remained that the being in his arms was an innocent infant, and that hesitation stilled his hand. “…Such a tiny child.” “Brother….” “Look upon it. It hasn’t even been weaned, yet it makes no complaint.” “Do not be beguiled. This is a fiend!” “It is a child first.” The King of Beggars’s expression turned grim. Even amidst this, the Sword Saint gazed at the child with sorrowful eyes. “…This is a child that has yet to become anything.” The King of Beggars's visage darkened further. “The child will call forth blood.” “Has there ever been a day in the martial world without blood?” “It might not be the blood of martial artists!” “Could it not be the blood of demons?” “Brother! This child might massacre thousands of innocents!” “Or perhaps slay tens of thousands of evildoers.” The conversation reached an impasse. The Sword Saint pitied the yet unspoiled child, while the King of Beggars warned of the calamities to come. The situation seemed on the verge of escalation into violence. Finally, the Sword Saint lifted his gaze to meet the King of Beggars directly. “Fellow Vagabond.” “….” “Why have we come this far?” The King of Beggars clenched his hands tightly and answered. “…We came to capture the Blood Demon. And we succeeded.” "For what purpose did you do this?" "For what purpose? Isn't it obvious! For peace! We came here for the sake of harmony(協)!" "Let me ask you this." The Sword Saint’s expression softened, tinged with sadness. He continued in a gentle voice. "Is killing a child, who has yet become anything, for the mere possibility of risk, harmony(協)?" The King of Beggars halted abruptly. His eyes widened momentarily before furrowing deeply. The Sword Saint continued. "Was wielding our swords meant only for this? Peace is the goal. It is the process. But if we are not righteous in our process to achieve that goal, can we call it harmony?" It was a paradox. Sacrificing such a small thing for peace seemed justifiable. Yet, the King of Beggars found himself unable to argue. Not for any other reason. But because the man before him, uttering these principled words, was none other than the Sword Saint. Sword Saint(劍聖), Mok Seon-oh. He sat at the highest post among the Four Saints and Six Kings(四聖六王), revered as a great knight of justice by the righteous martial world. A person who couldn’t overlook injustice, constantly deliberating righteousness, and never retreating in the face of danger. The man whom he called ‘Brother’ spoke such words, so the King of Beggars couldn’t find the heart to counter him. "Friend, I cannot bring myself to do it." The Sword Saint’s gaze shifted back to the child. Even amidst their heated exchange, as the child continued to gaze solely at the Sword Saint, it began to chuckle gleefully upon meeting his eyes. When his hand reached out, the child clutched his index finger tightly. The King of Beggars watched this unfold. On his face emerged a blend of contemplation and anguish. After what felt like an eternity of reflection, he finally let his shoulders slump as he spoke. "Brother, your words are truly unfair." His words, accompanied by a dry laugh, signaled an undeniable surrender. The Sword Saint offered a gentle smile. "Thank you. For indulging my stubbornness." "What do you intend to do now?" "I shall raise the child." The King of Beggars tilted his head curiously. "You, Brother?" "Yes, I insisted on saving him, so I must take responsibility and raise him." The child was still clutching the Sword Saint’s finger. It then brought it to its mouth, sucking on it gently. The Sword Saint chuckled warmly. "...I will teach this child righteousness. Raise him to live against his destined fate." "Truly, there's no stopping you, Brother." The King of Beggars shook his head in disbelief. Though his words were curt, they did not denote displeasure. Rather, quite the opposite was true. He felt an unexpected sense of relief. Watching the child, regarded as a future demon, being looked upon with hope, the King of Beggars once again recalled why he had chosen to follow the Sword Saint as a brother. ‘He may talk of ideals, but he always stands by his words.’ The weight the name 'Sword Saint' carried in the central martial world was akin to the weight of his deeds of righteousness. It led one to believe, perhaps. That perhaps, the Sword Saint might succeed in raising the child not as a demon, but as a knight of justice. "Mok Liwon(目理元)." "Yes?" "That seems like a fitting name for the child. He shall take my surname, Mok(目), and his name will comprise of the characters for governance, Ri(理), and origin, Won(元). It signifies the hope that he'll manage his inherent nature and grow to control himself." The Sword Saint lifted his head to meet the King of Beggars’s eyes. An exquisitely charming smile played across his face. "What do you think?" The King of Beggars looked at the child. A fair-skinned infant with eyes as red as blood. The redness in those eyes would fade as he grew. So long as he wasn’t drawn to blood, it wouldn’t show again. If the child grew true to his name, the red hue in those eyes would never be seen again. "…It sounds like a good name." The King of Beggars replied, smiling. Then, in a slightly subdued tone, he continued. "You have, Brother, succeeded in convincing me. I trust you, so I have no choice but to follow. However…." The King of Beggars gestured towards the door with his chin. "How do you plan to persuade those outside?" His question referred to the other masters waiting outside the main hall. The Sword Saint replied with a troubled smile. "I hope they will understand." "Those people? I’d say that’s absolutely impossible. At least, the Venom King(毒王) will never permit it. The Tang Family has suffered too many losses in this war." "That fault does not lie with this child." "At least, that's not how he will see it." The atmosphere grew tense once more. The Sword Saint's contemplation deepened, while the King of Beggars silently awaited the outcome. In the end, the decision remained unchanged. "It is right to seek their permission as well." "Brother…." "I cannot deceive them for my own desires." The Sword Saint stepped down from the altar, smiling. Now, there was a child in his arms. "Let us go." As the Sword Saint stepped outside, those who awaited him by the Blood Demon's corpse took note of the child in his arms and listened to his words, each donning expressions of their own. The discussions within the main hall on that day were never recorded. All the martial world knew was a single truth. On the day the Blood Demon died, the brightest star of the righteous path willingly renounced his name.