Chapter 344: Final Chapter

- Wooooooong!

The space rippled, and in the dark cave appeared a blood-soaked being—half-human, half-demonic.

This was the former Raijang—a monstrous being once known by that name in his human days.

The half-demon staggered, then clenched his teeth and slammed his fist into the wall.

- Bang!

"Ha... ha... you bastard! Descendant of the Sword Saint!"

Because of that man, everything had crumbled into nothing.

Centuries of preparation had ended in vain.

Who could have imagined that the Kyoryong—even revered as a divine beast—would be killed?

"Damn it."

After the death of Kyoryong, the morale of the martial artists and the imperial army surged, and they began to relentlessly push back the monsters.

Realizing he could no longer lead the yokai, the half-demon had no choice but to make a decision:

To abandon them and hope for another day.

After all, dying alongside them would be a meaningless death.

- Creak, creak!

"I have all the time I need."

Though he was defeated for now, he could rise again.

Now that he knew more about his enemy, he could become even more cunning.

That's what he was thinking—until—

"How grotesque."

A voice echoed from somewhere. The half-demon turned his head.

There, in the darkness, a beautiful woman sat on a rock, watching him.

The moment he saw her, his brow furrowed.

"Cheol Suryeon?"

She was none other than Cheol Suryeon of the Evil Heart Sect.

This place was one of the few hidden lairs he had kept secret.

How had she found it? That puzzled him.

"So you kept your original body intact?"

Instead of answering, Cheol Suryeon scoffed and said,

"You, who used to condemn those who transferred their souls to other bodies, now inhabit such a hideous creature? How laughable."

"...You recognize me?"

"I recognize your soul, Raijang."

As expected, she had seen through to his essence.

Initially caught off guard by her appearance, he suddenly saw opportunity.

Starting from scratch alone was daunting.

But with her help, a new beginning seemed within reach.

"This is fortunate, Cheol Suryeon. I was just thinking of—"

- Flinch!

The half-demon turned his head toward a strange presence.

A horde of half-corpses—Banshi—with their eyes sewn shut, was slowly approaching him.

Oddly, their mouths weren't sewn.

Ha!

Wounded and unable to sense properly, he had failed to notice their presence.

"...What is this?"

Cheol Suryeon stepped forward and answered,

"You must pay the price."

Her voice was filled with deep resentment.

"The price?"

"My master told me. Through Jakyeongjeong's spirit, he saw that you killed my child."

'!?'

The half-demon's expression turned to shock.

It was a long-buried memory.

To manipulate her and sow distrust with the Golden Emperor, he had killed the child she bore.

"Wait… Cheol Suryeon. There's been a misunderstanding…"

"Misunderstanding?"

She scoffed coldly.

Then, with a chilling tone, she said:

"Shut up and die."

- Jingle jingle!

As she rang her bell, the Banshi, as if waiting for the signal, leapt at him.

"D-Damn it!"

He wanted to use teleportation, but no strength remained.

The ravenous Banshi tore at him as if he were prey.

Even with his remaining strength, he couldn't stop them.

- Crunch! Crunch!

"Guaaaaargh!!!"

As he screamed, being devoured alive, Cheol Suryeon watched coldly, without a word.

---

"Phew… It's over."

After the death of Kyoryong, the tide of battle turned decisively.

It would be fair to say it had become much easier.

The once-mighty monster army was completely annihilated by the united forces of the righteous martial sects, the Blood Cult, neutral powers like Musang Fortress, and the Imperial Army.

"Look over there! The sun is rising!"

As the battle ended, the morning sun rose.

Everyone basked in its light—grateful to be alive.

"WAAAAAAH!!!"

"We won! We really won!!"

"We survived!!!"

Everyone cheered with full voice, celebrating the hard-earned victory.

Many lives had been lost, but thanks to this war, countless people across the Central Continent could now sleep peacefully.

For the first time, all factions—righteous, demonic, and neutral—looked at each other with smiles.

It was a heartwarming sight.

Until just moments ago, that is.

"What is this!?"

A sharp voice rang out from somewhere.

- Murmurs…

Just as everyone thought the crisis was over, a new problem emerged.

Leaders of the Martial Alliance and the Blood Cult gathered at one place.

"What nonsense is this? It was only thanks to our Alliance Leader, the world's greatest sword—So Unhwi—that this war ended in success!"

"Our leader?"

The righteous sects praised So Unhwi, claiming the victory was his alone.

But this clearly rubbed the Blood Cult the wrong way.

Unable to endure the continued self-praise, they finally exposed the truth.

"Ha! You idiots must be delusional. Do you know who he really is? That man is our Cult Leader—the Blood Demon. Your Martial Alliance has effectively become a branch under our control!"

"What!?"

"Blood Demon? What kind of nonsense is that?!"

"We saved you when you were on the verge of death, and now you dare speak so ignorantly…"

Suddenly, the once-harmonious atmosphere turned deadly.

Those who knew the truth looked to me with awkward expressions.

They too hadn't anticipated this chaos.

'...This is insane.'

It was still manageable when only the two factions argued.

But now, even leaders of Musang Fortress and various sects were joining in.

"Blood Demon? Why are they calling the Lord of the Fortress that?"

"My Lord! Something isn't right. What's going on here?"

"Damn..."

My father, the Wind God Jin Seongbaek, rubbed his forehead in frustration and avoided the crowd.

Hey! If you don't control them, what am I supposed to do?

Before I knew it, the eyes of all three major factions were on me.

They were clearly demanding an explanation.

I gazed quietly at them, took a deep breath, and finally said:

"I am..."

'!!!'

Before I could even finish, everyone fell into stunned silence.

Chaos erupted.

On this historic day, when the entire martial world had united, it all turned into a day of utter confusion and disbelief.

***

"Pfft."

A woman, who resembled Baek Hye-hyang quite a bit but had softer and kinder eyes, covered her mouth with her hand and burst into laughter.

She was none other than Baek Ryeon-ha.

She had recovered greatly after receiving treatment from Mansasinui.

While recuperating and regaining her health, Baek Hye-hyang would often visit and share many stories with her.

Now, the way they treated each other had grown genuinely sisterly.

With a smile, Baek Ryeon-ha spoke.

"He really is just like himself."

"That guy is unbelievable. Why would he suddenly say 'I'm Jin Un-hwi' out of the blue in that situation?"

The memory of that moment was still vivid.

Instead of explaining the truth first, he just blurted that out.

"Still, in the end, he revealed his real surname to the world."

"Yeah, he did."

Baek Hye-hyang let out a small chuckle.

Because she recalled how Jin Un-hwi had said those words and then looked oddly relieved, even amidst that chaotic scene.

"Maybe he had been waiting for that moment all along."

Baek Ryeon-ha's comment brought a glint to Baek Hye-hyang's eyes.

All she had done was tell the story, yet Baek Ryeon-ha seemed to have understood Jin Un-hwi's true feelings. It left her slightly surprised.

Staring at her, Baek Hye-hyang smirked and said teasingly,

"You still like him, don't you?"

At that, Baek Ryeon-ha paused briefly before shaking her head.

"...No, I don't."

"Don't be ridiculous."

"I really don't anymore. I plan to dedicate the rest of my life to the sect as the High Priestess."

Though her body had healed, there was still a burden left in her heart.

She simply wanted to make up for it, little by little.

"There's no law saying a High Priestess can't marry, you know?"

At those words, Baek Ryeon-ha smiled awkwardly, seemingly flustered.

Then she quickly changed the subject.

"You said you'd be making a decision soon. Have you done it yet?"

"I will. Hmph."

Baek Hye-hyang snorted at the question and then took a still-warm teacup and downed it in one go.

It must have been scorching hot.

Baek Ryeon-ha was about to ask if she was okay, eyes wide, but then lowered her hand.

'Her face turned red, and yet she's forcing herself to act fine. Geez.'

Why had they once hated each other so much that they tried to kill one another? Her older sister could act so childish sometimes.

The thought made her smile.

"Why are you smiling?"

"No reason. I'm rooting for you."

"Today, I'll finally settle things and prove who's on top. That damned ice witch."

With those words, Baek Hye-hyang pressed down the bamboo hat she brought and stood up.

When Baek Ryeon-ha tried to rise with her, Hye-hyang shook her head.

"Stay seated. You're still recovering."

"How could I sit still when the new Sect Leader is heading out?"

"It's fine. Being Sect Leader isn't a big deal."

"Huh?"

Not a big deal?

Wasn't that the position she had longed for?

"What's so great about a title handed over like a favor by someone who said it was too burdensome? Tsk. Anyway, take care of yourself. I'm off."

With that, Baek Hye-hyang waved her hand lazily and walked out.

Watching her retreating figure, Baek Ryeon-ha smiled.

Then, gazing out at the verdant garden outside the window, she murmured softly to herself,

"You've changed so much... Un-hwi."

---

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sound of hammering came from the forge.

I was silently watching that place.

The sun seemed about to set, tinting the sky a soft crimson.

—Wouldn't they tell you when it's done if you just waited? You're so stubborn, sitting here for over two hours like this.

At Sodam Sword's clucking remark, I chuckled.

The sword was supposed to be completed today—how could I not be excited?

—Hmph. Beats listening to that cursed baby wail all day.

At Blood Demon Sword's words, I frowned.

"Cursed baby"? Isn't that a bit harsh?

That's my daughter you're talking about.

—Ahem.

Keep that up, and I'll shove you back into whatever pouch you came from.

—Come on, I didn't mean it that way. I like your daughter a lot.

What a quick change in attitude.

Blood Demon Sword had grown much more laid-back than when I first met him.

Who would believe this guy is one of the legendary cursed blades?

Sodam chuckled.

—Or you could leave it with your first wife, Sama-yeong, like you did with Saryeon Sword. After all that baby crying, her speaking has practically dropped to zero. Must be some kind of spiritual training.

Oh...

That's actually a good idea.

At that thought, Blood Demon Sword went on a furious rant at Sodam Sword.

It got too noisy, so I shut off his voice.

—Huh? The hammering stopped.

Come to think of it, the sound from the forge had indeed gone quiet.

Could it be... the sword was finally complete?

Before long, Ah-song came running from the forge holding something.

It was the finished sword's scabbard.

Handing over the sword wrapped roughly in worn cloth, Ah-song said,

"Young Master—no, Lord. It's finished."

"Just call me whatever's comfortable."

"No, no. There is a proper hierarchy, after all. Anyway, here it is."

"You've done well."

I received the newly forged sword from Ah-song.

I hadn't even unsheathed it yet, but I felt strangely nervous.

Sodam's voice echoed in my head.

—Un-hwi. Don't be too disappointed if it doesn't work.

...I know.

But still—what if?

I looked at the slightly flawed blade.

Inside was a new sword, reforged from the broken pieces of the Namcheon Iron Sword.

Thankfully, the blacksmith who helped restore this sword was the same one who had once cast a mold of the original at the smithy outside the Murim Alliance fortress.

Who would've thought he kept the mold?

Thanks to him, I'd been filled with hope, waiting for this moment.

Tap.

I gripped the sword handle.

Then I called out to it silently in my heart.

'Namcheon.'

No response came from the sword.

I'd heard that newly forged swords with spirits sometimes take time to awaken.

Then... was this no longer the Namcheon Iron Sword?

At that moment, a familiar voice rang out.

—Are you my new master?

Ah...

I couldn't help but feel disappointed inside.

So, in the end, there really was no way for it to return...

But then—

—No. You must be my second master.

'!?'

My eyes widened as I stared at the Namcheon Iron Sword.

"You...?"

Could it be... it remembered me?

I was stunned when the voice spoke again.

—How could I ever forget you, Un-hwi?

Hearing the familiar tone of my old companion, a lump formed in my throat.

A friend I thought I'd never see again had returned.

"Haah…"

Choked up, I said nothing as I held the Namcheon Iron Sword's scabbard tightly to my chest.

The setting sun warmly shone down, as if blessing our long-awaited reunion.