11.What Must Happen, Happens

Chapter 38: What Must Happen, Happens

– Coincidence or fate? Another path toward strength begins.

A Misstep During Retreat — A Choice Shaped by Destiny

Jin Ha-yeong dashed through the wastelands, evading the pursuit of the Magyo.The shock of defeat weighed heavily on his shoulders,but survival came first.

Thud!He misstepped.The ground collapsed beneath his feet,and his body plunged downward.

Crash!He tumbled into a pit.

He tried to get up immediately—but a sharp pain shot through his ankle.

"Damn it… I could climb out easily if it weren't for this."

He tried using Gyeonggong,but the injury in his ankle made it impossible.

He paused to catch his breath.Leaning against the wall, he began to restore his qi.

And then—

Click.

The wall opened.

A Hidden Space — Traces of Sword and Martial Legacy

A cold breeze blew from within.Inside lay an old skeleton,abandoned for decades—perhaps centuries.

But what truly caught his attentionwere the countless sword marks etched into the walls.As if someone had desperately tried to pass down their legacy.

Before them lay a sword and a martial arts manual.

"As if it had been waiting for me."

He quietly picked up the sword.Despite the long years, it had not rusted.

He opened the manual.Within were sword techniques he had never seen before in all of Gangho.

And in that moment, he realized—

"This... this is my opportunity."

Was it chance? Or fate?

Perhaps it didn't matter.

What must happen—

always finds its way.

Chapter 39: The One Who Walks the Blade's Path

– His destiny was once to walk the righteous path, but something else was calling him now.

A Silent Cave — The Path Hidden Within the Blade

Jin Ha-yeong slowly picked up the sword.It was neither too heavy nor too light—as if it had always belonged in his hand.

Was it a coincidence that the blade lay here?Or had it been waiting for him all along?

He opened the martial manual once more.And began to follow the flow of the sword techniques.

A New Martial Art — And Subtle Change

The techniques were unlike anything he had learned before.They were not simply about slashing or thrusting—they created a rhythm, a flow,a dance of countless trajectories born from a single motion.

At first, he struggled.But as he continued training,the swordsmanship began to sink into his body.

Whoosh!The sound of air being sliced echoed in the cave.His strikes now perfectly matched the sword marks etched in the stone wall.

And slowly, he began to understand—this was no ordinary martial art.This was the sword of a true master.A blade meant to transcend time.

But—

As he trained, something else seeped into him.This was not a sword of justice.

With each movement, a strange aura grew within him—a killing intent, cold and silent.This was not the path of chivalry.It was the path of power.

Though he hadn't yet realized it,his spirit was beginning to shift.

He Was Once Destined to Become a Champion of Justice

His original fate had been to grasp the righteous sword—to become a beacon of virtue in Gangho.

But this sword…it was not meant for justice.It was forged for victory.

As he trained in its inner techniques,his thoughts slowly changed.

At first, he had trained to surpass Seung-chan.But as the days passed,something deeper took root.

"To win, one must abandon hesitation.""The codes of the Murim... are merely shackles for the weak."

Yet—he had not fully grasped what was changing within him.Nor could he foresee where this path would ultimately lead.

Chapter 40: He Perfects His Sword and Returns to Gangho

– A sword that defies fate, and a bloodstained Gangho that awaits his return.

The Sword is Complete

Jin Ha-yeong raised his sword.His body and blade now moved as one.It was no coincidence that he had fallen into this place.

With every swing, he grew stronger.His sword was no longer merely martial technique—it was transcending art, becoming instinct.

Shwick!The blade sliced the air—and the stone wall parted in silence.A razor-thin mark vanished without a trace.

He now understood this swordsmanship completely.The sword was no longer a tool.It was destiny itself.It was the only path to becoming truly strong.

He looked at the martial manual.Turned the final page.And understood:

This sword was forged for one purpose—power.Whoever mastered it would inevitably rise above all.

But—Whether they walked the path of righteousness or wickednesswas a matter of choice, not fate.

He bowed to the skeleton one last time.A gesture of respect for the one who had left behind this legacy.

Now, he would return—to Gangho.

Gangho Once More – A World Drenched in Blood

When he emerged from the cave,Gangho was already in flames.The Magyo had begun pressing the Murim Alliance harder than ever.

The front lines were collapsing.The Alliance was on the defensive.The Magyo's momentum grew stronger by the day.

It was no longer the world he had known.Gangho was spiraling into a whirlpool of blood.

And yet—he smiled.

His return was perfectly timed.

"Shall we begin again?"

Chapter 41: Like a Comet, He Descends

– A true master cannot help but be strong. And Gangho cannot help but take notice.

The Murim Alliance Leader in Crisis

The Murim Alliance's stronghold—now a battlefield soaked in blood.

The Magyo's top warriors were closing in on the Alliance Leader.These were not ordinary fighters.

They were the "Blood Demon Five" (血魔五)—the five ultimate elites of the Magyo.Their strength was overwhelming.Even the leader of the Alliance was faltering.

If he fell here,the Murim Alliance would collapse with him.

And at that moment—

BOOM!

A streak of swordlight tore through the darkness.A lone figure flew through the air.

His blade deflected the Magyo masters' attacks in a single instant.The tide of battle shifted—

Just like that.

The man who appeared like a blazing comet—was Jin Ha-yeong.

He Becomes the Murim Alliance's New Star

Jin Ha-yeong faced the Magyo elites head-on.His sword had changed.It was no longer just strong—It was overwhelming.

Slice!One Magyo warrior lost his arm.Crash!Another was knocked back two full steps.

The Murim warriors gasped.

"Is that really Jin Ha-yeong?""That swordplay… when did he become that powerful?"

One by one,he defeated the Blood Demon Five.

The Alliance Leader caught his breath and said,

"…Jin Ha-yeong. The Murim Alliance cannot ignore your skill.""You are no longer just a swordsman."

In a single battle,he rose to the top ranks of the Murim Alliance.He was now one of its central figures.

Seung-chan and Jin Ha-yeong — Meeting Once More

Watching from a distance,Seung-chan quietly smiled.

"The strong will inevitably rise."

He observed Jin Ha-yeong with interest.His growth was far faster than expected.

Likewise, Jin Ha-yeong looked back at Seung-chan.

"Seung-chan… He's strong.""But maybe… maybe now, I can surpass him."

A flicker of rivalry sparked within him.But he shook his head.

"First, we must eliminate the Magyo for the sake of the Alliance.""Our duel… can wait."

The two warriors stood once more in each other's presence.But for now—they did not yet draw their swords.