The chains of Duty

Several days later, in the grand hall of the Sword Palace, the elders gathered once more for a meeting.

Their expressions were complex, their emotions concealed beneath unreadable gazes.

As the last elder took his seat, Eun-Woo spoke in a firm tone, "We may begin."

The Seventh Peak Master stood up, his voice tinged with urgency. "Sect Master, we have established a connection with the Tyrant Sword Sect."

He hesitated for a moment before continuing, "They have agreed to join forces, but..."

Eun-Woo's expression remained impassive. "But what?" he asked calmly.

The elder took a deep breath. "But they insist on a marriage alliance between the Sword Maiden and the Tyrant Holy Son."

"What?!" Eun-Woo's brows furrowed. His fists clenched, and in a sudden burst of anger, he slammed his hand against his throne.

"That bastard Yang Luo! Trying to take advantage of the situation at such a critical moment!" His fury was palpable, suffocating the air around them.

"Sect Master, please calm yourself!" the Fifth Elder pleaded. "We understand that this is a difficult matter for you, but consider the future of the sect."

"Easy for you to say! It's not your disciple they want!" Eun-Woo's voice carried a sharp edge, his rage simmering beneath the surface.

"Sect Master, we must not let personal emotions cloud our judgment. This decision determines the survival of our sect," the Second Elder said solemnly.

"Yes, Sect Master Eun-Woo," the First Elder chimed in. "We all acknowledge how much you care for your disciple, but the sect must come first."

He continued, "Sacrifices must be made for the greater good."

Eun-Woo's gaze swept over the elders, each of them nodding in agreement.

His mind drifted back to his past, to the path that had led him to this moment.

He had once been nothing more than a spoiled child from a minor family, a reckless youth with a terrible temper. He had indulged in all manner of wickedness—harassment, coercion, worse.

But his arrogance had led him to offend someone far beyond his means.

On his seventeenth birthday, fresh off a breakthrough to the Second Turn, First Level, he had felt invincible. That night, as he celebrated his progress, he encountered a girl with golden-brown hair and elegant eyes. Entranced by her beauty, he had sought to claim her by force.

But she had not been just any girl—she was the daughter of Huang Hee-Cheol, a formidable cultivator at the Seventh Level of the Fourth Turn.

The consequences had been devastating. Huang Hee-Cheol retaliated, slaughtering his family. His father, a First-Level Fourth Turn cultivator, had been no match. His mother had given her life to help him escape.

From that day on, with everything taken from him, he had vowed never to let anyone trample over him again.

He entered the Sword Palace at twenty, clawing his way up to become an inner disciple by thirty-nine.

During the inner competition, his master had recognized his unwavering heart for the sword and taken him in as a personal disciple.

For decades, he trained relentlessly, mastering his master's techniques and forging his own path.

At one hundred twenty-four, he entered the Fourth Turn, embracing the Heavenly Law. Through enlightenment, he created the Heavenly Precision Sword Art, a technique embodying the will of the heavens.

[Heavenly Precision Sword Art]

Grade: Low Earth (Profound Quality)

Laws: Heavenly Law, Swordsmanship Law, Law of Precision

Form: Supreme Accuracy Sword Technique

His master had once told him: A sect is not merely a gathering of cultivators. It is a foundation of beliefs, built over thousands of years. Without its foundation, there is no sect.

Eun-Woo closed his eyes, his heart wavering. As Sect Master, sacrifices were inevitable—even the unreasonable ones.

His brows relaxed as he exhaled slowly. "Inform the Tyrant Sword Sect that we accept their terms."

...

Back at Xing'er's residence, she finished her preparations. Just as she was about to leave, she walked to Li Hao's room and knocked lightly.

The door creaked open, revealing Li Hao—shirtless, his sharp gaze locking onto hers.

"So, what's the surprise you prepared for me?" she asked, curiosity lacing her voice.

Li Hao smirked. "Oh? You actually remembered? I thought you would've forgotten."

He stepped briefly back into his room, then returned with his hands hidden behind his back. "Guess what I'm holding."

Xing'er raised an eyebrow. "I don't know, why don't you tell me?"

She tried to use her divine sense to peek behind him, but a thin barrier blocked her perception.

"Okay, okay, stop keeping me in suspense!" she huffed playfully.

Li Hao chuckled and revealed a necklace crafted from pure gold and platinum, adorned with a small crystal at its center. Radiant light flickered beautifully across its surface.

Her eyes widened. "How did you make this? Gold and platinum are rare metals!"

Li Hao smiled. "Do you want to try it on?"

"Yes!" she said eagerly.

He stepped forward, carefully fastening the necklace around her neck. As his fingers brushed her skin, their faces drew dangerously close. Xing'er's cheeks turned bright red, her heartbeat quickening.

Li Hao paused, his own cheeks tinged with color. Their eyes met, and for a moment, the world faded around them.

Then, he leaned in, capturing her lips in a gentle kiss. His hands slid around her waist, pulling her closer. She melted into his embrace, returning the kiss with equal passion.

Seconds passed before they broke apart, both turning away in flustered embarrassment.

"W-Well... I should get going now," Xing'er stammered before hastily leaving.

Li Hao watched her disappear beyond the doorway, exhaling as he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly before stepping back inside.

As Xing'er walked away, she replayed the moment over and over in her mind, her fingers unconsciously tracing the necklace.

How did that escalate so quickly? she thought, flustered. One moment he was helping me put it on, and the next... we were kissing.

Her thoughts lingered on him as she gazed down at the necklace, the warmth of his presence still burning in her heart.

Yet with the urgent mission ahead, she forced herself to steady her breathing and moved forward.

...