Book 29 Chapter 1

Preface

―Seven Black Stars Rise in the Blue Sky

Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!

As the sun began to set, casting a crimson glow over the western mountains.

A streak of flame, its white tail tearing through the red sunset, shot vertically upwards.

Boom!

Upon reaching a certain height, the flame burst open, blooming into a black flower.

Pee-you, pee-you, pee-yu!

As if following the lead, six other flames soared upwards in succession.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

As seven flames burst open one by one, seven black stars appeared in the sky of Hubei, even though it was still daylight.

That was the beginning.

From a distance, at regular intervals, another seven flames were fired, and as always, seven black stars appeared.

Like signal fires, as if to announce something, to call someone.

Or as if summoning something, the seven stars rose one by one, one by one, in the sky of Hubei, and slowly began to move north.

Midway up a certain rocky mountain, whose name most people couldn't remember.

After passing through a densely forested path where trees grew so thick that their ends were hard to discern, a stone path emerged. Following this stone path, which was difficult to spot unless one looked closely, one could witness the unfortunate sight of nature's destruction, with massive trees lying broken in bizarre ways.

They were neither simply snapped nor cut with a knife. They weren't sawed either. It was as if they had been twisted and crushed by some immense force, the trees crying out that they had been killed in a very peculiar way.

This scene of natural destruction was not the only one.

Ascending a little further from this spot, one reached a peak surrounded by large rocks like a folding screen, where sparse pine trees grew. On the stone pillars that sprung up like mushrooms on this peak, large and long gouges were savagely etched. Some places had already collapsed into fine piles of rubble. If this were the work of a stone mason, it would be of exceedingly poor craftsmanship.

The weapon used for this destruction of nature was left out in the open for anyone to find.

Near the wounded and collapsed stone pillars, hundreds of wooden clubs lay broken and scattered as if to show them off. They were shattered as if they had exploded from the inside out. It was no exaggeration to call it a scene of mass slaughter of wooden clubs. The wooden clubs were both the murder weapon and the victims.

At the edge of a sheer cliff, located just a stone's throw from that scene.

In the spot with the best view, overlooking the horizon, a pair of small silk flower shoes were carelessly placed, facing the precipitous cliff edge.

There wasn't just one pair of shoes. Next to them, a pair of leather shoes, presumably for a man, lay side-by-side in the same direction, and there were two more pairs of silk flower shoes.

Which of these four is the perpetrator of nature's destruction?

Did a man, unable to endure rigorous training, fall into a frenzy of madness, destroy his surroundings, and then commit suicide with three women?

But the culprit was very much alive.

Moreover, boldly, at a stone's throw from the scene of destruction, he was surrounded by three gorgeously attired courtesans, seated before a six-tiered lunchbox on a silk mat.

The three women, clad in luxurious palace attire and heavily made up, were clearly high-class courtesans by their appearance. Furthermore, if one knew that these three beauties were the "Three Beauties of Zixia," the most famous courtesans in Hubei Province, people would surely be shocked or burn with murderous intent towards the man at the center.

The man, seated as if surrounded by the Three Beauties of Zixia, had a handsome face and wore purple clothing. He was a leisurely man with a gentle and approachable impression. His eyes were peculiar; whenever sunlight passed through them, they would occasionally flash a reddish-gold hue, as if embracing the sunset.

Beyond the three pairs of silk flower shoes and one pair of leather shoes, the plains stretched out beyond the rocky mountain, dyed by the spreading crimson sunset.

Ding, ding, ding.

Seolhye, the first of the Three Beauties of Zixia, plucked the strings of her pipa with her delicate, porcelain-white fingers, creating beautiful melodies.

"The sky is dyed in the sunset, the earth leans on the 'sunset [霞]', and in the heart of the wind [風]…"

Pung hye, reputed to have the most voluptuous figure among the three, accompanied the pipa music with her sweet voice, reciting an impromptu poem, and poured a clear, sparkling wine into the man's goblet. Then, she gently leaned her soft body against him and whispered in a seductive voice.

"How would you like to conclude this, Young Master Ha?"

Raising his goblet, the man, addressed as Young Master Ha, continued.

"I am simply intoxicated by the sunset in my cup!"

After continuing thus, the man let out a carefree laugh and slowly, joyfully, drank the wine that held the sunset.

'Is this man perhaps made of wood? If a woman subtly shows her feelings, shouldn't he respond in kind, but why this sudden talk of wine? Could it be… he truly didn't understand?'

Pung hye pouted and grumbled inwardly. Seizing the moment, Woo hye, the third beauty, known for her outstanding legs, stepped forward.

"Oh dear, the wine cup is empty. We must refill it quickly."

As Woo hye picked up the wine bottle, for some reason, the hem of her skirt got caught on her ring, causing the skirt to ride up. A glimpse of her slender, pale leg was revealed.

"Oh my, did you see that?"

Woo hye asked in a coy tone, holding the wine bottle in her right hand and shyly pointing to her thigh revealed through her skirt with her left. Although she pointed, almost everything that should be seen was visible through the side slit of her skirt.

"Hahaha, of course! What a truly brilliant color and aroma this wine possesses. It is indeed a fine wine, worthy of being called a renowned brew."

Seeing the man's eyes fixed on the pouring wine, Woo hye almost tripped and fell as her foot got tangled in her skirt.

Even though his senses might have been blurred from continuously drinking wine, the more empty wine bottles piled up, the brighter his eyes became, like starlight.

Far from desiring their bodies, he seemed to want companions with whom to share a drink and enjoy a leisurely time.

'You fool, you should at least react when a beautiful woman approaches and pours you wine! Do you think it's easy for our Three Beauties of Zixia to smile and take turns pouring wine for you?!'

Woo hye, holding the wine bottle and smiling, vented her anger inwardly. Pung hye, who was pouring wine competitively next to him and subtly leaning on his arm, was equally displeased.

Especially Seolhye, considered the foremost among the Three Beauties of Zixia, felt her pride wounded as she conveyed her feelings subtly through her pipa playing and gaze, only for him to look at his wine glass with clear, bright eyes.

'What exactly is this man? If his ears are properly functioning, he should be captivated by my beautiful pipa music; are his ear canals just for decoration?'

As experts in their art, they didn't show their displeasure outwardly, but the more the three beauties thought about it, the more their anger surged.

'This is no longer about winning or losing! This is about the pride of our 'Three Beauties of Zixia (紫霞三妓)'!'

The Three Beauties of Zixia (紫霞三妓).

They were like idols in Zixia Garden, the top-tier pleasure house in Hubei Province, and their fame had spread throughout the martial arts world.

Due to their immense fame and popularity, they were only courted by wealthy individuals with immense fortunes. Of course, only a few with even greater fortunes could receive their favor. Therefore, when they first saw this man, they paid him no mind. He was handsome, but possessed no particularity that would catch their eye.

However, this man did not stretch his neck to catch a glimpse of them, unlike other men. He simply laughed and drank with a few well-behaved companions. His witty conversation must have been good, as laughter never ceased at his table.

Then, one day. Zixia Garden began a promotion: with the purchase of three bottles of their premium liquor, "Soshi-ju," customers would receive a booklet containing full-body portraits of the Three Beauties of Zixia. Given the Three Beauties' fame, people flocked like clouds. And among those ordering Soshi-ju was the man in purple.

Upon seeing that, Seolhye inwardly sneered, "Hmph!"

'As expected, you're just a man after all. Pretending to be so aloof.'

Having noticed lately that her gaze was inexplicably drawn to the man in purple, she completely lost interest upon hearing him order twenty bottles at once. As she turned to leave with a cold heart, Seolhye's head snapped back.

'What did that man just say?'

The clerk running the promotion seemed to have misheard and was asking again.

"Sir, you need to take the booklet!"

"I don't need it."

"But it's a booklet of the Three Beauties of Zixia. It's a booklet of the top super beauties in Hubei. It's a rare item that you can't even get with money."

Then, the man in purple said without a hint of hesitation.

"No, thank you."

His tone was nonchalant.

"Twenty bottles means ten booklets! Ten! You could sell these for quite a sum."

"Is that so? Then consider it a gift, and please take it. Instead, from now on, please provide more snacks and less of this useless booklet."

Then, leaving behind the clerk who folded himself in half, he disappeared leisurely amidst the crowd shouting, "Give it to me, give it to me!"

Watching him go, Seolhye unconsciously clutched her garment.

'How dare you!'

And a few days later, she summoned him. She couldn't let it slide, for the sake of her pride.

But she was refused.

He gave nonsensical reasons such as having no reason to meet without paying, and not wanting to be ripped off if they met.

'Am I, Seolhye, worth less than a side dish?!'

Seolhye trembled with shame.

"Hohoho, what an interesting man. He didn't even flinch at his elder sister, oh hohoho. This time, I'll try. I, Pung hye!"

Pung hye, who had been gloating at Seolhye's failure, declared that Seolhye's era was over and approached the man. While her pipa playing was inferior to Seolhye's, she was skilled at singing, and above all, she had the most voluptuous figure among the three. However…

"It was so good to see you so thoroughly rejected, heh heh heh."

Woo hye said with a laugh to Pung hye, who returned with a flushed face.

"Ohohohoho! Who would like a woman whose only skill is physical attraction? This time, I, the intellectual one, will step forward. Sisters, just watch."

Laughing heartily, Woo hye, the youngest of the three, stepped forward. She believed that with her long, shapely legs and intellectual conversation, any man would fall for her at once. However…

"It seems even the intellectual third sister couldn't manage it? Ohohohoho."

Pung hye burst into laughter at Woo hye, who returned with a glum face.

"You two failed and are bickering, how unsightly."

Seolhye remarked.

"Stop playing coy! Don't think you'll always be number one!"

Woo hye, the most sharp-tongued among the three, shouted.

"What did you say? Are you finished speaking? Do you want to try?"

"Anytime!"

Crackle, crackle, crackle!

When all three failed, sparks began to fly between them. They couldn't stand it any longer for the sake of their pride.

"I always thought I'd have to settle this with you sisters someday."

"I was just thinking I needed to put that arrogant nose of yours in its place, so this is perfect."

"Good! Let whoever conquers that man first be the winner. It's unbearable to be ignored like this, making the name 'Three Beauties of Zixia' meaningless."

For some reason, Seolhye also actively joined in.

"The winner becomes the greatest of Zixia Garden and the new leader of the Three Beauties. How about it, sisters?"

"Agreed!"

"Agreed!"

The bet began.

The three decided to use aggressive methods they would never have used before: directly infiltrating the man's stronghold.

Their weapons were their bodies and skills, cultivated over time. Confident that no man could resist them, retreating like this was unthinkable. And then, the appointed time arrived.

Apparently quite fond of drinking, the man returned just a few days after buying twenty bottles. Again, he refused the booklet. At that moment, Seolhye stepped forward.

"Congratulations, Young Master."

"Congratulations for what?"

Even though she, the foremost of the Three Beauties of Zixia and the most popular at Zixia Garden, spoke to him directly, the man showed no particular surprise.

"You have been selected as one of our distinguished customers at Zixia Garden."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, so we've decided to deliver twenty bottles of fine wine to your location. We, the 'Three Beauties of Zixia,' will deliver them… personally."

Seolhye said with a radiant smile.

"There's no need for you to go to such trouble."

Even with the Three Beauties of Zixia coming in person, the man seemed utterly uninterested.

"…Ahem. And what about the special gift of our Zixia Garden's finest premium liquor, 'Zixia Jade Dew,' which will be presented to our special distinguished customer upon delivery?"

At that, the man's previously indifferent eyes suddenly widened.

"Zixia Jade Dew? Is that the legendary liquor that, with just a sip, makes one see a hundred and eight young women dancing in the sunset that dyes the vast prairie crimson?"

"Yes, it is. You know it well."

'Do you prefer imaginary beauties over the ones right in front of you!' she wanted to shout, but had to hold back.

"However… my residence is a bit far. It might be troublesome…"

The man added, looking somewhat troubled. This was a good sign. It made her even more eager to go.

"It doesn't matter!"

The three exclaimed in unison.

"It's a bit high up…"

"That doesn't matter either!"

The three answered simultaneously again.

"If you insist on coming, I can't stop you any longer. And I really want to drink the Zixia Jade Dew. In that case, please use this place."

With that, the man handed Seolhye a yellow token.

"'Safe Transport, Exemplary Service.' Kuaizu Men 'Kuaikuan Delivery Service'?"

It was a place she had never heard of before.

"You probably haven't heard of it. It's a new sect in the martial arts world. It's not surprising you haven't heard of it."

At these words, the three were startled. Was this man a martial artist?

"It's a matter of transporting premium liquor, so we must be cautious."

'Is alcohol more important than three beauties!' the Three Beauties had to hold back again.

The day of the decisive battle arrived.

The next day.

The Three Beauties swiftly sent people to Kuaizu Men.

Soon, three yellow 'Express Delivery Palanquins' carried by two robust men arrived.

Why palanquins instead of carriages?

To the apprehensive women, the one who appeared to be the leader bowed respectfully and said.

"Please do not worry. The 'Zixia Jade Dew' will be delivered safely, without breaking."

It seemed the man had given them prior instructions, and the content was quite displeasing.

The Zixia Jade Dew was placed in a special box filled with soft cotton and fabric all around. Their handling of the wine bottles was so meticulous and devoted. It was as if they were attending to an empress.

"Please board."

In contrast, their attitude towards the women was polite, but not particularly impressive.

With a sense of unease, the Three Beauties of Zixia boarded the palanquins.

Although pulled by only two robust men, the palanquins ran as fast as horses. And at some point, they tilted left and right, and the palanquins began to shake violently up and down.

When they were told to hold on tight, their hands were already gripping the handles so hard that their fingers turned pale. This was the first time these proud beauties felt so close to death.

And finally, arriving alive at the man's dwelling, the Three Beauties of Zixia immediately vomited everything they had inside as soon as they got out of the palanquins. They were severely motion sick.

"That's why I told you not to come…"

The man's mumbled words brought tears to the eyes of the Three Beauties of Zixia.

What a disgrace, with their goal so close!

Seeing their suffering, the man couldn't bear it and approached them, stroking their backs. She wanted to slap him for daring to touch them so casually, but she couldn't.

A warm energy flowed from his hand like a river, calming their agitated stomachs.

"Welcome. My home, at the edge of a cliff overlooking the sunset."

Once their motion sickness subsided enough to look around, the three women couldn't help but gape in astonishment.

They had arrived at the top of an unnamed rocky mountain, next to a cliff.

How on earth could those palanquin bearers have brought them all the way here?

It felt like a dream.

Having already lost the initiative, they couldn't even think of competing and could only follow the man blankly. Of course, a luxurious mat was spread out, and a six-tiered lunchbox filled with delicious food was opened, but the man's attention was solely focused on the wine they had brought.

"Oh, this wine is truly a masterpiece, a renowned brew even called the 'sweat of the gods.' Truly lives up to its reputation."

The man's kind, innocent, and slightly hazy eyes became clear and sparkled like starlight when faced with the fine liquor.

A gaze so intense it was suffocating to even meet. A gaze that seemed to draw out one's soul, a blend of mystery and sharpness.

Seolhye, who was momentarily entranced, staring at the man, quickly shook her head to regain her senses. The Three Beauties of Zixia, the most beautiful women in Hubei, did not sell their bodies. They sold only their skills, and giving their hearts was even more out of the question.

The other two beauties were already subtly shifting their tactics from skills to subtle physical advances.

'Even if it's a competition, it's unbelievable that those arrogant ones are being so proactive…'

If they had no feelings at all, this wouldn't be happening. It seemed they were even willing to spend a night with him if things went well. However, to their chagrin, they still hadn't conquered this man called 'Young Master Ha.' He felt like an impregnable fortress, despite being a man.

'The competition isn't over yet! Soon it will be night, night is our front yard, the battlefield of us courtesans!'

Darkness covers human reason and peels away the curtain of hidden desires.

'The competition starts now!'

And then it was.

Fiiiiiiiii!

Was it a signal flare that shot up above the crimson sunset, drawing a long tail and blooming into a black flower!

It wasn't just one signal flare.

Following it, six signal flares soared upwards, and flames bloomed. From a distance, they looked like the Big Dipper in broad daylight.

"Wha- what is that? Why are there black flames in the sky… It feels so ominous."

The women trembled with instinctive fear and unconsciously leaned on the man.

"That is…"

As the man leisurely sipped his wine, looking at the sunset casting a deep shadow on the cliff face, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes for the first time.

"The Black Big Dipper…!"

Stopping his tilted wine glass, a quiet but heavy word escaped the man's lips.

"Surely, Young Master Ha, you know? What these ominous flames signify?"

Seolhye asked, surprised by his sharp eyes and low, heavy voice.

"That signifies only one thing. And that is…"

The man smiled faintly, as if he had forgotten his previous seriousness.

"Unfortunately, this boring life might come to an end today."

The man raised his glass to the black stars for a moment and then downed it in one gulp. Was it a gesture of respect? Or a farewell? A bitter smile played on his lips.

"Unfortunate? Do you prefer it to be boring, Young Master Ha?"

Pung hye asked, her eyes wide.

"Of course. Without this boring peace, how could I sit in such a scenic spot with beauties like yourselves and leisurely sip a fine wine?"

"R-really?"

Woo hye tilted her head, looking as if she didn't understand. Boredom and tedium were considered evil in their profession. They were the greatest enemies to be overcome and eradicated.

"The arts of leisure naturally grow from peace that is as boring as it is. Ah, they are the ones that ruin my grand plan to live a life of training during my free time, living leisurely!"

Then, whether as a joke or in earnest, he glared at the black flames in the sky and clicked his tongue as if in resentment, tilting his glass.

Seolhye had seen countless men before, and by her standards, such a man could never remain quiet.

They say eyes are the mirror of the heart.

Looking at those eyes, which occasionally flashed sharply like the gleam of a blade, one got the premonition that even if he tried to stay still, the world wouldn't leave him alone. A person who doesn't harbor something great cannot have such eyes.

"Hohoho. Shouldn't a great man like you, Young Master, harbor ambitions of soaring to great heights?"

Pung hye, leaning in slightly, asked.

"Ambitions of soaring to great heights? Like achieving fame and fortune, or conquering the world?"

His tone was dismissive.

"Well, young women like myself don't really know, but aren't you a martial artist, Young Master Ha?"

Seolhye intervened before Pung hye could continue.

"For now, yes."

The man did not deny it.

"Then what are all those broken wooden clubs over there? Aren't they traces of your training? You've trained so diligently, it must mean you have something you want to achieve…"

Seolhye trailed off, and the man replied.

"I broke them on purpose."

"On purpose?"

"Doesn't that make it look like I trained hard?"

Seolhye was speechless, so the quick-witted Woo hye interjected.

"Th-then what about those beautiful trees lying broken over there?"

"It rained quite a lot a few days ago."

"Th-then what about that pile of shattered rocks over there? Isn't that a display of your martial prowess?"

"Ah, that was created during an earthquake a while ago."

The man's face was serious, whether he was joking or not. While Seolhye and Woo hye were dumbfounded, Pung hye asked again.

"Then what can you actually do, Young Master? You don't like rough things like unifying the martial arts world or conquering the world?"

"Hahaha. Whether I like it or not, I've already decided not to do it."

"…Decided not to do it? Does that mean you once intended to do such things?"

Seolhye asked, probing again. The man smiled faintly and said.

"Well, who knows? I'll leave that to Miss Seol's imagination. That would be more fun."

However, Pung hye seemed unwilling to give up and asked again.

"Hmph, you are truly a man of mystery, Young Master. Can't you tell us why you stopped?"

Then, the man, who had paused with his hand on his chin, replied briefly.

"I'm the second born."

That single, transparently light sentence, for some reason, left them unable to speak further. It felt as if an infinitely thin and transparent blade had coldly sliced through them and flown away.

Beep, beep, beep, beep beep beep beep!

The man, who suddenly took out a short flute from his pocket and blew into it, smiled faintly as if the previous conversation hadn't happened and said to the women.

"Our evening outing must end here for today. I've called for 'Long-Distance Proposal Delivery,' so they should arrive soon."

As he said, a moment later, three yellow palanquins, pulled by men in yellow uniforms, arrived as if flying over the grass. They seemed to be waiting at an appropriate distance, ready to return whenever called.

"'Fast Delivery Service' palanquins, three units, have arrived upon summons."

"Well, they arrived faster than I expected."

"No, Young Master. How could we dare be negligent when it's at your command? We will escort you anywhere, anytime you call."

The three famous courtesans of Zixia Garden, as if by agreement, looked towards the man as they boarded the bright yellow palanquins. Their eyes were filled with deep regret.

However, the man simply bowed his head lightly with a calm expression. After the palanquin doors closed, the six strong men bowed to the man and then carried the yellow palanquins down the mountain as if flying.

"Hmm, the owner of the Black Lion Token is gone, and the Ten Heavenly Lords have started to move?"

The man's eyes twinkled with a smile that was neither bitter nor amused.

"In that case, this lazy master must appear."

And then, at that moment, a black hawk flew towards the now deeply sunset-dyed mountain peak that enveloped the entire horizon. Seeing a messenger tied to the hawk's leg with a black string, a sharp light flashed in his eyes.

He opened the messenger and remained silent for a while, then muttered in a grave voice.

"Night is approaching."

He had thought it might happen someday, but he never expected it to come in this way.

For him, his only elder brother was the dawn that was breaking, so he himself chose to become the setting sun.

Therefore, he withdrew.

His third sister had different thoughts, but he wished for a world where only the eldest brother was needed to last forever. This was partly because he liked his eldest brother so much, but also because the martial arts world currently needed someone as bright and boisterous as the midday sun, embracing everything. He himself was merely a pair of blades honed to dye the world with blood during a time of war, like the evening glow painting the land crimson.

He was a useless existence during times of boring peace. Instead, he had the 'leisure' to do whatever he wanted, so he could enjoy each day with joy.

Since he was not given anything to cut, he could even go on these impromptu 'outings,' so how could he dislike this peace?

"Although not as good as my sixth sister, her pipa music was quite listenable…"

Muttering incomprehensible words, he casually reached out, and two twin swords, lying discarded in the distance, flew with a swish into his hands.

An amazing feat of absorbing objects from the air.

However, anyone who knew the actual weight of these twin swords would be astonished twice over.

Is he bidding farewell to the rocky mountain?

The man turned his body towards the rock pillar rising behind him and lightly waved his hands.

Click.

At the same time as something glinted around the man, the two twin swords made a soft sound. As if they had just been drawn from their scabbards and then reinserted, though invisible.

"As expected, it's still incomplete… I thought the end was in sight…"

He shrugged, seeming dissatisfied, and walked forward without looking back.

Rumble!

Crack!

Radial cracks like a spiderweb spread across the massive stone pillar behind him, and stones broke loudly from the inside out. The stone pillar soon crumbled into a pile of gravel.

However, the man continued forward without looking back, as if he didn't care at all.

As if such incomplete works were not worth looking back at.

"…But I can't wait any longer, can I? I still haven't seen 'that'."

It was a murmur as if someone were beside him.

He truly wanted to see.

True strength.

True martial arts.

It was similar to something that receded the closer he approached.

He began to walk towards the deepening evening sunset.

A black lion-shaped token swayed at his waist.

His name was Gal Jung Ha. He was a man with a name like that of the vibrant crimson sunset.