Chapter 226

The name High School Student Kim Rae-won was legendary.

Scarcely any martial artists in the realm were unfamiliar with it.

This was especially true for those belonging to the contemporary era of Jin Hagyeong, who governed a subsidiary manor of the Vast Heaven Infinite Sword Sect.

Roughly two decades prior, a solitary youth of mysterious background made his entrance into the Jianghu to champion justice.

Lacking affiliation with any established Murim Sect or the guidance of a mentor, he operated entirely on his own.

Bound to no school and serving no master, his renown eventually earned him a place among the Three Monsters.

For about ten years, the youth traveled across the Jianghu, rectifying injustices both major and minor.

He eradicated villainy, shielded the vulnerable, and never requested any compensation.

The combat techniques he deployed resembled nothing taught by any known sect under the heavens, leaving the source of his martial mastery completely untraceable.

Eventually, he simply disappeared from the face of the earth one afternoon.

Whispers circulated that he had met his demise, while others claimed he had chosen a life of complete isolation.

A particularly peculiar theory even suggested that he had journeyed back to the enigmatic place of his birth.

As the years rolled on, the Jianghu gradually allowed his identity to slip from common memory.

Countless individuals had previously questioned his motives for upholding righteousness.

Yet, he had never provided an explanation to anyone.

Even so, the senior members of the Vast Heaven Infinite Sword Sect would occasionally speak of him during their deliberations.

An independent martial artist wielding an untraceable style was a strange anomaly.

For an organization like the Vast Heaven Infinite Sword Sect, which rigidly adhered to the orthodox doctrines of the Murim, an unaligned master of mysterious origin was naturally viewed as a potential threat requiring vigilance.

‘……Could this truly be the same person?’

Jin Hagyeong narrowed his gaze to study the figure standing across from him once more.

The timeline seemed completely incorrect.

Had the renowned Kim Rae-won stepped into the Jianghu as a mere youth back then, his current age ought to be somewhere in his early forties.

In stark contrast, the individual standing here appeared to be only in his mid-to-late twenties.

Could it merely be a case of identical names?

He attempted to convince himself of that explanation.

And yet, doubts remained.

An unaligned background.

An unidentified style of martial arts.

An extraordinary expert appearing from complete obscurity.

Furthermore, the intrinsic quality of the energy he had detected moments ago bore no resemblance to Vast Heaven Qi, nor did it match any form of Evil Qi or any other discipline Jin Hagyeong had ever witnessed throughout his lifetime.

The historical accounts regarding the martial arts of the legendary Kim Rae-won described them in precisely this manner.

“……Kim Rae-won?”

The words slipped past his lips involuntarily.

“The High School Student Kim Rae-won……. Could it be that you are that legendary figure?”

The stranger observed Jin Hagyeong quietly for a brief period.

His countenance remained entirely impassive.

There was no sign of astonishment, nor did he offer a contradiction or an affirmation.

A fleeting moment of utter stillness hung in the air.

“My past is a blank.”

He stated with absolute tranquility.

“I am personally unaware of whether that identity belongs to me.”

Jin Hagyeong compressed his eyelids thoughtfully.

An absence of recollection?

He recalled a report from the beginning of the current year concerning an anonymous powerhouse who had emerged within the fortified southern sectors of the River Capital, swiftly subduing all local organizations.

He also remembered hearing a passing mention that this particular expert went by the moniker ‘Kim Rae-won.’

Back then, he had simply brushed the matter aside as irrelevant gossip.

After all, the Jianghu was teeming with frauds who masqueraded under the reputations of others.

However, experiencing this profound energy firsthand altered everything.

‘This is absolutely no fraud.’

While an impostor might easily usurp a title, it was impossible to counterfeit such an overwhelming presence.

The discrepancy in their ages remained a puzzling riddle.

Yet, was it rational to evaluate an individual wielding an entirely foreign martial philosophy by ordinary logic?

Furthermore, within the vast history of the Jianghu, profound techniques and stages of enlightenment existed that could rejuvenate a practitioner or alter their physical form, including age-reversal or the fabled Bone and Body Metamorphosis.

Granted, individuals capable of executing such miraculous transformations were exceptionally scarce.

Ultimately, whether he shared a name by coincidence, was the original master, or was merely a successor did not alter the present reality.

None of those questions carried any immediate weight.

The pressing issue at hand was whether an individual of this caliber would be willing to harbor two hundred refugees.

“You mentioned that some of your people are wounded?”

Kim Rae-won inquired.

His voice offered no indication of whether he was intentionally bypassing the earlier topic or simply deemed it resolved.

“Bid them enter. It makes no difference if they number two hundred or two thousand.”

For a brief heartbeat, Jin Hagyeong could scarcely credit what he was hearing.

“……Do you require anything in return?”

“Ensure your weapons remain in their scabbards upon entry. Nothing more.”

Jin Hagyeong raised his eyes to scan the man’s demeanor.

Could he genuinely mean what he said?

Fully aware of the fierce conflict gripping the Vast Heaven Infinite Sword Sect and the Dark Rakshasa Way, was he truly prepared to harbor two hundred routed combatants unconditionally?

Doing so meant inviting the imminent wrath and pursuit of the Dark Rakshasa Way upon his own head.

“Sect Leader. Offering us sanctuary may invite ruin upon your domain. Our pursuers from the Dark Rakshasa Way are likely close behind.”

This warning served as a remnant of his personal integrity.

Refusing to conceal the reality that his request for salvation carried catastrophic risks was the inherent obligation of an honorable swordsman.

Kim Rae-won inclined his head to the side just a fraction.

“I am aware.”

A mere three syllables.

The gravity underlying that brief response felt remarkably profound.

It quickly dawned on Jin Hagyeong that the statement “I am aware” carried the practical definition of “I do not care.”

What allowed for such indifference?

How could the master of a fledgling organization remain so unbothered?

‘……No, perhaps it makes perfect sense.’

Supposing this individual actually was the legendary Kim Rae-won.

If he truly represented that figure from two decades ago who traversed the Jianghu autonomously without affiliation, fighting for the side of Righteousness.

Then a monumental choice of this nature was entirely consistent with his character.

That legendary figure had always operated with such disregard for personal danger.

At the very least, the mythical Kim Rae-won of popular lore matched this disposition flawlessly.

Right at that moment, activity stirred from the vicinity of the Training Ground.

A youthful female student hurried toward them.

She appeared to be roughly fourteen or fifteen years of age.

The residual warmth of active combat training was still palpable around her knuckles.

“Mister, have we received visitors?”

Kim Rae-won extended a hand to affectionately pat the youngster’s head.

“Indeed. They carry many wounded among them. Arrange for fresh water to be brought.”

“Understood!”

The youth spun around to bellow toward the Training Ground.

“All of you, halt your training! Visitors have arrived, and many need medical attention. Fetch water immediately and clear out some room.”

The disciples of the organization immediately acted as a single entity.

There was a complete absence of confusion.

Prompted solely by the girl’s directive, they departed to gather refreshments and started spreading out ground coverings within the stone fortress.

Though their martial expertise appeared somewhat rudimentary, an unusual quality defined the collective group.

Not a single person displayed indecision.

‘……They remain completely unruffled. While their execution isn’t exceptionally swift, they display absolutely no doubt.’

For Jin Hagyeong, who had borne witness to nothing but human depravity and despair over the preceding days, this display held a bizarrely mesmerizing quality.

‘Is this the order he has built?’

The mythical Kim Rae-won from the stories had been famously solitary.

He drifted across the lands devoid of any faction or comrades.

Yet the present reality offered a different picture.

He commanded devoted followers.

If the legendary Kim Rae-won had truly emerged from hiding, establishing an entire community rather than walking a solitary path.

Then perhaps the intervening two decades had yielded something far more substantial than a mere myth; he had planted enduring new roots.

And.

From behind the Training Ground, two additional figures emerged.

An extraordinarily striking woman accompanied a gentleman who possessed the dignified bearing of an intellectual.

The female martial artist advanced with a blade secured to her hip, while her companion trailed at a leisurely pace, lightly gripping a shut paper fan.

Jin Hagyeong felt the air catch in his throat.

‘……They have reached the Peak Realm. No, their cultivation might extend even beyond that stage.’

Both individuals radiated that exact level of power.

Another pair of unlisted experts had materialized before his eyes.

Boxes could not contain them, and they clearly transcended the standard definition of masters.

The presence radiating from the armed woman verged on pure, unadulterated lethal intent, whereas the individual carrying the fan displayed an immense reservoir of internal energy that felt profoundly deep and stabilized.

An enigmatic ruler whose prowess defied estimation.

Serving beneath him were two entities occupying the tier of a Supreme Master, if not greater, who somehow blended the traits of common practitioners with something far more profound.

‘……This is far too formidable to be a mere fledgling organization.’

The scholarly gentleman holding the fan, who had been silently evaluating Jin Hagyeong’s inspection, was the first to vocalize his thoughts.

“Vast Heaven Infinite Sword Sect……”

His tone sounded analytical.

He spoke as though he were deliberately assessing the implications of the name rather than simply acknowledging it.

The armed lady cast her eyes upon Jin Hagyeong and promptly offered her own sharp observation.

“Goodness, has the great Vast Heaven group truly been reduced to such a desperate state so quickly?”

Her remark hit home instantly.

Rather than expressing shock upon hearing the title of the Vast Heaven Infinite Sword Sect, her reply indicated an immediate comprehension of the conflict’s current trajectory.

Possessing a perspective that clearly transcended a standard combatant’s view, she appeared entirely unimpressed by the legendary reputation of the Vast Heaven Infinite Sword Sect or the devastating reality of its defeat.

This detail alone sent a jolt of astonishment through Jin Hagyeong.

Had these two newcomers lacked the absolute authority and prowess to support such an attitude, they could never have reacted with such casual indifference.

“……Regrettably, that is the truth.”

“It makes perfect sense that your mind is in such disarray.”

Jin Hagyeong offered no defense against her words.

The reality was that his psychological state was completely fractured.

The individual with the fan shifted his gaze toward Kim Rae-won.

He tapped his closed accessory against his palm.

“Sect Leader.”

After utilizing the concise honorific.

“Will harboring these refugees not invite unnecessary difficulties for us?”

“Are you aware of what separates a champion from a common citizen?”

“……”

“The dividing line is not defined by innate capability. It rests entirely on whether an individual chooses to advance a single pace further when gripped by terror. That minor detail is the sole distinction.”

“An intriguing perspective.”

The shut fan gestured subtly through the air.

A subtle grin appeared on the intellectual’s features.

“Yet it carries a certain logic. Following that reasoning, we can conclude that a champion has arrived at the Hero’s Sect.”

“Precisely. Since a champion has sought refugee at the Hero’s Sect, the absolute minimum we can offer is a warm meal, can we not?”

The words were uttered with complete casualness.

This was an individual who reduced the monumental choice of sheltering two hundred broken warriors down to a simple offer of sustenance.

In that exact instant, Jin Hagyeong felt the strength completely drain from his legs.

The sensation arose from something far deeper than mere physical fatigue.

It felt as though the collective weight of every loss he had endured over the preceding days was suddenly collapsing onto his shoulders simultaneously.

The sheer agony he had suppressed while desperately fulfilling his obligations as a Manor Lord of the Vast Heaven Infinite Sword Sect, the painful memories he had desperately avoided revisiting, and the visages of the comrades he had been abandoned to their fates.

Had he allowed his body to collapse into a kneeling posture, the emotional torrent would have burst forth like a ruptured levee.

A vanquished warrior might find solace only in submission.

Nevertheless, if the governing master collapses to the earth first, the spirits and limbs of the two hundred souls relying on him would shatter entirely.

Such an outcome had to be prevented at all costs.

Consequently, he refused to sink to the dirt.

He clamped his jaw tightly together and forced his body to remain upright.

Should the commander collapse, the fate of the two hundred followers behind him would be sealed in ruin.

He could not yield just yet.

Jin Hagyeong reversed his hold on his fractured blade once more and drove its tip firmly into the earth.

Utilizing the ruined weapon as a makeshift crutch to steady his weight, he inclined his upper body forward.

On this occasion, in contrast to his previous actions, his gesture was filled with absolute genuine devotion.

“……Jin Hagyeong, Manor Lord of the Heaven Reflecting Sword Manor. I humbly place the survival of the two hundred remaining practitioners of the Vast Heaven Infinite Sword Sect into your hands.”

Even before the final syllable had fully departed his lips, Kim Rae-won pivoted away.

“Hoae.”

“Present!”

“A group is currently navigating the ascent. Escort them into our perimeter.”

“Right away!”

The youth gathered a small handful of disciples and darted off toward the trail winding up the slopes.

An imposing, heavily built warrior closely shadowed her movements without uttering a sound.

His physical stature resembled that of a monstrous creature.

The armed lady focused her gaze toward the high trail and murmured under her breath, ensuring her voice carried far enough for Kim Rae-won to intercept it.

“Given the condition they are in, it is highly probable they have brought a massive storm of trouble right along with them.”

Jin Hagyeong released a heavy breath upon hearing that assessment.

He desperately wished to object, yet honesty forbade it.

Exhaling another sorrowful breath, he raised his eyes once more toward Kim Rae-won.

An endless barrage of inquiries swirled within his mind.

He yearned to confirm if this man truly represented the fabled Kim Rae-won.

He wished to understand the true meaning behind the claim of amnesia.

He craved knowledge regarding the events that transpired over that hidden ten-year void.

Yet, the inquiry that eventually shaped itself upon his lips was entirely different from those thoughts.

“……Permit me to put forward a final question.”

“Speak.”

“Sect Leader…… does no terror touch your heart? Did I not explicitly state that by harboring our numbers, you risk inviting the absolute devastation of the Dark Rakshasa Way upon your home?”

Kim Rae-won silently regarded Jin Hagyeong for a brief span.

Then, a grin manifested.

It mirrored his previous expression perfectly.

A faint, almost imperceptible curving of his lips that barely registered as an actual smile.

Nevertheless, a subtle shift could be felt within it this time around.

It felt chilly, yet somehow comforting.

Or perhaps it was an icy disposition masquerading under a veneer of kindness.

It remained an enigmatic facial expression whose underlying truth defied interpretation.

“Manor Lord Jin.”

“……”

“What manner of provider inflicts terror upon those who seek his shelter?”

Kim Rae-won closed the distance between himself and Jin Hagyeong.

“Allow your mind to find peace.”

In the next heartbeat, he dissolved from the location as though snuffed out entirely, leaving behind nothing but the fading resonance of his parting words.

“Furthermore, do not trouble yourself over any pursuing elements.”

The armed woman directed her gaze toward the empty space where Kim Rae-won had just been standing.

Subsequently, she rested her palm against the hilt of the weapon fastened to her hip.

“Good grief…… of course, he actually went ahead and committed to it.”

The gentleman carrying the fan spoke in a muted tone from beside her.

“Trigram Master Yan.”

“I am well aware, I am well aware.”

The pair simultaneously turned their attention toward the ascending mountain trail.

Following a singular, synchronized shake of their heads, they leaped forward, vanishing from the clearing.

At this point, the only element lingering in the vacant clearing was a solitary query.

“……Pursuing elements?”

Leaving only Jin Hagyeong standing completely frozen in place, his jaw slack with absolute bewilderment.