Chapter 17…
Invincible Sword Spirit (17)
Shin Chang-Ui Family
“Ii, iiik…!”
Yi Dogun returned home gnashing his teeth. He had suffered a terrible humiliation.
If it had been in some deserted place, he might have swallowed the shame. But—
“Damn it!”
The thought that word of his disgrace at the inn would spread throughout the marketplace made his fury boil over.
“Natural enemy, what nonsense. It wasn’t a natural enemy—he must have used sorcery.”
He was angry and resentful.
At first, everything had gone according to plan. He had put on a bold front, gained the justification of punishing someone for insulting his clan.
If only he had punished that fellow who mocked his family name, the people—and especially Hyeon Sumi, the woman he had in mind—would have looked at him with admiration.
But instead…
“I’ll never forgive this.”
He had been disgraced in front of Hyeon Sumi and countless others. After today, he could hardly show his face again.
“Young Master Dogun!”
A servant’s voice came from outside.
“What is it?” he snapped irritably.
“Young Master Dogi is asking for you.”
His second elder brother was calling for him. Dogun’s face twisted in displeasure.
“Second brother? For what reason?”
Up until now, his second brother had never concerned himself with Dogun’s affairs.
“I don’t know, Young Master!”
“Fine. Where is he?”
He had a good idea why.
“He’s in the training yard.”
“Damn it!”
Cursing under his breath, Dogun knew it could only be about what happened at the inn.
He left his room and went to the yard, where Yi Dogi was waiting.
There, a man in his mid-twenties stood with a spear in hand, practicing martial arts. He was Yi Dogi, second son of the Shin Chang-Ui family.
“Brother!”
When Dogun called out, Dogi halted his training and turned to look at him.
He had a square jaw and striking features, a face that exuded boldness.
“Pick up a spear.”
His voice was flat, emotionless.
Dogun’s expression twisted again.
Yi Dogi’s martial prowess was nearly equal to their eldest brother Yi Dochun’s. If he sparred with him, Dogun knew he would be battered and bruised.
“I said, pick up a spear.”
“B-Brother…”
“If you won’t, then I’ll assume you think you can defeat me with ease, and I’ll come at you with this spear in earnest.”
Since Dogi was the type who did what he said, Dogun had no choice but to grab a spear.
Instead of aiming it to defend himself, he lowered the tip to the ground and simply stared at his brother.
“What is that? Do you mean to say that without even putting strength into your grip, you could defeat me with ease?”
Before Dogun could reply, Dogi’s spear lashed out.
Chaaang!
Dogun hastily moved to block, but the strike knocked the spear right out of his hands.
“Pick it up!”
Clenching his jaw, Dogun retrieved his weapon. This time, he gripped it tightly and glared at Dogi, determined not to drop it again.
Paaat!
The spear was primarily a thrusting weapon, less suited to cutting than the sword or blade. But in Dogi’s hands, that limitation was laughable—his spear techniques were devastating.
This was the Thunderbolt Twelve Spears, the unique martial art of the famed Thunderbolt Spear Yi Jemin, who had made the Shin Chang-Ui clan what it was today.
“Haaah!”
Dogun shouted as he blocked. But the force split his weapon in two, sending him stumbling backward until he fell.
Dogi looked at him with disappointment, then spoke in a low voice.
“I thought, at the very least, you would handle your duties before gallivanting around.”
Dogun hated being lectured, but he had no choice but to listen.
“I hear you thoroughly disgraced the family at the inn.”
“Brother! He used sorcery. If not for that, there’s no way he could have defeated Soje.”
Dogun claimed the Sword Spirit had used sorcery, excusing his loss. But Dogi was only more disappointed.
He wasn’t looking for excuses.
What he wanted to hear was an admission of defeat, followed by a vow to train harder and avenge the humiliation.
Instead—
“Dogun!”
There was steel in his voice now.
“Do you truly believe he used sorcery? That it wasn’t simply your lack of skill?”
“Yes! Otherwise, how could Soje have been unable to move a muscle?”
“He couldn’t move?”
“Yes. It was as if all the strength drained from his body. The man must have used sorcery to humiliate me.”
Dogi gazed into Dogun’s eyes.
They did not waver. Either his brother was telling the truth, or he truly believed with all his heart that sorcery had been used.
“I heard the renowned Sword of Residual Light, Jeok Hwa-Myeong, was there. And yet you say even he did not notice this supposed sorcery?”
“That’s right. He’s already taken the other side. That sorcery was insidious, subtle.”
“…Very well. You may go.”
Dogun turned to leave.
“Dogun!”
He stopped in his tracks.
“If you were stronger, you wouldn’t be shaken by such tricks. Train harder, so you don’t disappoint Father.”
Dogun bit his lip.
“Yes, Brother.”
The Sword Spirit, meanwhile, stayed late at the inn with Jeok Hwa-Myeong, the Sword of Residual Light. What began as a meal turned into a drinking session, and the two shared long talks.
It was mostly Sword Spirit asking questions and Jeok Hwa-Myeong answering, their topic always circling back to the martial world.
“So, the Heavenly Dragon Trading Company is as good as finished, then?”
“That’s right. Thirty years ago, they were among the ten greatest trading guilds in the Central Plains, but since then, they’ve declined and now exist in name only.”
The Heavenly Dragon Trading Company—once famed across the Central Plains for its wealth and influence—had suffered disaster after disaster, natural and otherwise, until it fell into ruin.
Sword Spirit’s interest in them stemmed from a hidden truth: the Heavenly Dragon’s true family was that of Lonely Demon Phantom, Cheon Nam-Yeon.
“And now?”
“They’ve lost their foundation. They’re barely running a small guild out of Zhongqing, and even that seems difficult.”
“I see.”
Hearing of their ruin gave Sword Spirit complicated feelings, but he had no intention of helping them. Even Cheon Nam-Yeon had never asked him to.
“Then, do you know of the Hua Family Medical House?”
“Hua Family?”
Sword Spirit’s eyes widened like a curious child’s as he looked at Jeok Hwa-Myeong, who couldn’t help but smile at the sight.
“Yes, the Hua family that settled in Nanning, Zhongqing.”
“Of course. Their medical skill is among the finest in the Central Plains. Many seek them out for treatment. The problem is…”
“A problem, despite their success?”
“Yes. They’re famous for refusing to treat martial artists. Because of that, martial artists cause trouble daily—arguments, fights, disturbances. It’s never peaceful there.”
“Wow! Even with martial artists harassing them every day, they haven’t gone under?”
In moments like these, Sword Spirit was like an innocent child.
“Indeed. Their former head, Physician Yao Jin-Yong, was renowned as a divine doctor and even served as imperial physician to the Emperor himself. Even martial artists dare not push too far, lest they bring ruin upon their entire clan.”
Sword Spirit nodded, smiling faintly. Seeing this, Jeok Hwa-Myeong tilted his head.
It was as if Sword Spirit had some personal connection to them.
In truth, the Hua family was the clan of Yao Bing, the Phantom Mask. Born into a physician’s household, she excelled in martial arts—a fact her family disliked, so they never spoke of her. She herself remained silent, not wanting her family targeted by demonic sects because of her. Thus, few knew the connection.
“And what about the Gu Family Ironworks in Nanning, Zhongqing?”
“The Gu Family Ironworks…”
The Gu Family Ironworks!
So renowned was their forge that it was said every weapon in the Central Plains came from them. To this day, countless arms were produced under their name.
Sword Spirit asked for one reason: the home of Ghost Demon Emperor, Gu Yeong-Cheol, was none other than the Gu Family Ironworks.
The Heavenly Dragon Trading Company, Hua Family Medical House, and Gu Family Ironworks—
All three were based in Xilin, Zhongqing. And the three people—Lonely Demon Phantom Cheon Nam-Yeon, Ghost Demon Emperor Gu Yeong-Cheol, and Phantom Mask Yao Bing—had grown up together as childhood friends, playing in the same neighborhood. A secret that even now was unknown to the martial world.
‘So, aside from Lonely Grandpa’s family, the others are all still thriving.’
Step, step…
Footsteps approached, growing louder until they stopped before the two.
It was Yi Dogi, second son of the Shin Chang-Ui family.
“Yi Dogi of the Shin Chang-Ui greets Senior Jeok Hwa-Myeong, the Sword of Residual Light.”
