The Mad Heaven Triad shared not only pain but also emotions, desires… everything, as if they were a single entity.
In other words, couldn’t the effects on their body and spirit be distributed among the three?
“Since everything is divided threefold, they didn’t lose their sanity despite consuming that bizarre drug.”
“Heh heh heh. Quite the sharp mind.” The Mad Heaven Triad nodded simultaneously, letting out a chilling chuckle. “Indeed. Our brotherhood divides even the side effects of the drug.”
By sharing the drug’s side effects among the three, they could maintain clear minds without losing their sanity. In other words, the rumor that the Mad Heaven Triad’s spirit and body were completely unified was true.
“You’re called the Mad Sword in the martial world, aren’t you?”
The Mad Heaven Triad stepped forward in unison, drawing their swords simultaneously. Their swords were much narrower than standard longswords and about six chi longer. Moreover, the tips were split into three prongs, resembling torn paper.
“We’re called the Mad Triplets. Shall we see who’s truly madder?”
Slash!
They executed the Eight Directions Storm, an utterly ordinary technique.
But something astonishing happened.
Swish.
Though Bu Eunseol perfectly dodged the sword technique, a blade grazed his shoulder.
‘Did they divide a single sword technique among the three?’
The Mad Heaven Triad didn’t perform the same technique in unison.
Instead, they split a single technique into three parts.
Simply put, Bu Eunseol had dodged the Eight Directions Storm executed by the eldest, Cheon Wookang.
But midway, the second brother, Cheon Woosang, adjusted the technique to counter Bu Eunseol’s evasion.
Finally, the youngest, Cheon Wooryang, completed the technique, landing the blade on his body.
It sounded simple, but to divide a single technique into three parts? It meant they could alter the same technique three times, effectively using time three times slower than an ordinary martial artist.
Swish! Swish!
With a sharp sound of cutting air, three prongs of sword light targeted Bu Eunseol’s vital points.
This time, it was the Immortal Guiding the Way.
Flash!
But the Immortal Guiding the Way, split into three, was no longer an ordinary technique. The sword thrusts, which should have been straightforward, came from different directions at different speeds.
Shing!
Bu Eunseol immediately unleashed the Supreme Heavenly Flow to intercept and neutralize the technique mid-execution.
But the Mad Heaven Triad reacted faster.
As Bu Eunseol deployed his sword technique, they altered theirs, disrupting his Supreme Heavenly Flow. It was as if a painter lifted a brush to create a masterpiece, only for a child to shake the brush mid-stroke.
‘Can they even divide defensive techniques into three?’ Every technique was split into three movements, coming from three directions at three different speeds.
It wasn’t mere joint attacks—it was akin to executing an entirely new martial art.
‘Impressive.’ Not only did they divide their attacks, but they also split their defensive techniques, perfectly protecting themselves. Moreover, whether due to the drug’s power, or their internal energy, their sword techniques surged like raging waves.
Pop! Pop!
Two streaks of sword energy grazed Bu Eunseol’s shoulders.
They had broken through his meticulous defense, unleashing sharp sword techniques.
Swish.
Finally, the three prongs of sword energy left blood trails on both of Bu Eunseol’s shoulders and his back. As the Mad Heaven Triad’s swords grazed him, a smile formed on his lips.
‘Is that all?’ A sharp glint flickered in Bu Eunseol’s eyes as he instantly spotted a flaw. ‘No matter what, you can’t perfectly unify distinct individuals into one.’
With this realization, Bu Eunseol swiftly altered his sword technique. His trembling sword tip exploded with light, creating dozens of sword energy strands.
“Hah!” As the Mad Heaven Triad recoiled in surprise, the sword energy transformed into two powerful waves of energy, pushing Cheon Wookang and Cheon Woosang back over ten jang.
Slash!
Now facing the lone opponent before him—the youngest, Cheon Wooryang, whose martial prowess was the weakest among the triplets—Bu Eunseol unleashed a torrent of sword techniques. The sword strikes, flowing like a jellyfish, seemed weak but suddenly spread into a dense net-like formation.
Clang! Clatter!
As their weapons clashed at close range, metallic sounds rang out, and sparks flew. Bu Eunseol attacked Cheon Wooryang as if he were an archenemy, pouring all his killing techniques into the youngest brother.
“Hold on just a bit!” Cheon Wookang and Cheon Woosang hurriedly rejoined the fray to block Bu Eunseol’s attacks.
Whoosh!
But Bu Eunseol’s cold, shimmering sword points transformed again into powerful energy waves, repelling the two brothers. His black sword traced bizarre trajectories, relentlessly slashing at Cheon Wooryang.
“Ugh!” Overwhelmed by Bu Eunseol’s focused assault, Cheon Wooryang panicked.
His sword techniques, sharp as piercing awls, spread like nets, making defense impossible alone. Cheon Wooryang’s rhythm faltered.
‘If their spirits were perfectly unified, the strength in their swords should’ve been evenly distributed.’
Bu Eunseol had sensed it when their sword techniques grazed his skin.
Though the Mad Heaven Triad shared sensations, their bodies and spirits weren’t fully unified, contrary to rumors. If they were, the wounds on his shoulders and back should’ve been of identical depth.
Swish!
In that moment, Bu Eunseol unleashed three consecutive sword strikes. No matter how they countered or attacked, he targeted only Cheon Wooryang with relentless precision.
“Argh.” Finally, a groan escaped Cheon Wooryang’s lips.
For the first time, one of the triplets spoke alone, not in unison.
Swish! Swish!
As their perfect harmony broke, their sword techniques began to crumble. Their once-exquisite and mystical swordplay became increasingly simple and ordinary.
“Wooryang, focus and block his attacks properly!” Cheon Wooryang’s repeated disruption of their rhythm caused their sword techniques to falter.
Unable to bear it, the eldest, Cheon Wookang, shouted, and the second, Cheon Woosang, echoed in agreement. “You’re messing up, and now I’m injured too!”
Though their spirits weren’t fully unified, they shared physical pain. One’s mistake caused pain to be shared among them, fueling their frustration.
“Execute Blowing Leaves, Eight Divisions differently!” Cheon Wookang, as if struck by inspiration, shouted with gleaming eyes. “If he’s targeting Wooryang, we’ll each use different sword techniques simultaneously!”
The second, Cheon Woosang, shouted, “There are still more Bound Asuras. I’ll summon them!”
He drew a thin flute from his robes and played it.
Twenty more Bound Asuras appeared from behind, charging at Bu Eunseol.
But that was their grave mistake.
By abandoning their synchronized, divided techniques and resorting to ordinary joint attacks with different techniques, their mystical swordplay vanished instantly.
—Roar!
As the Bound Asuras surged like waves, their meticulous defensive formation collapsed.
‘Now!’ Cutting down the charging Bound Asuras, Bu Eunseol swiftly used his movement technique to close in on the Mad Heaven Triad.
“No way!” Realizing their mistake, the Mad Heaven Triad split their techniques into three again, creating an impenetrable sword barrier.
But Bu Eunseol’s sword technique was faster.
Flash!
With a violet lightning flash, a sharp sword energy in a zigzag pattern enveloped Cheon Wooryang.
The unparalleled killing sword, Unmatched Thunderbolt, was unleashed.
Clang!
Astonishingly, the Unmatched Thunderbolt missed for the first time. Knowing Bu Eunseol was targeting Cheon Wooryang, the two brothers had deployed a meticulous defensive technique around him.
But that was Bu Eunseol’s trap.
The attack on Cheon Wooryang was a feint.
He had persistently targeted Cheon Wooryang, making the brothers assume the Unmatched Thunderbolt was aimed at him. A killing sword technique required perfect timing to claim an enemy’s life.
Flash!
The true Unmatched Thunderbolt was unleashed.
It targeted the exposed necks of the two brothers.
Spurt!
Blood sprayed from Cheon Wookang and Cheon Woosang’s necks, and Cheon Wooryang’s eyes turned hollow.
Was he feeling the pain of having his throat cut?
Or was it a sense of liberation as the shared sensations of body and spirit with his brothers were severed?
He stood frozen like a statue.
‘His spirit is broken.’ He had shared the sensation of death with his brothers.
Though his body remained intact, his mind had already endured the agony of death. He would live forever haunted by the pain of that moment.
Thud, thud.
Blood rained down again.
Bu Eunseol cut down all the remaining Bound Asuras, sparing only the motionless Cheon Wooryang with his vacant eyes.
“Ugh…” Trembling at the sight, Cheon Wooryang let out a cry.
“Argh!” He raised his sword and charged at Bu Eunseol.
Having shared his life with his brothers, he lost all courage to continue living without them. Bu Eunseol executed his sword technique. Swiftly and painlessly, he severed Cheon Wooryang’s neck.
Thud.
His head fell to the ground.
Without looking back, Bu Eunseol walked slowly toward the central building of Blood Serpent Valley.
Creak.
Opening the door revealed a dark passage leading underground.
There was no need to use his Heart-Sensing Technique.
He instinctively knew Seo Jinha was imprisoned there.
After walking through the seemingly endless passage, a vast stone chamber came into view. Torches burned along the walls, but the chamber was so vast that shadows lingered around the torchlight.
Bu Eunseol spotted a door on the opposite side. A massive iron gate, six cheok tall and over thirty cheok wide.
Clearly designed to imprison someone.
Seo Jinha was undoubtedly inside.
As Bu Eunseol moved forward,
“…” Four figures suddenly stood around the chamber.
All wore masks, wielded different types of swords, and stood with distinct postures and auras. Yet their presence suggested they were renowned swordsmen who had once made their mark in the martial world.
“Impressive aura.” One of the masked figures approached Bu Eunseol and spoke.
“We are the Four Sword Sages.”
“Four Sword Sages?” Bu Eunseol’s eyes narrowed slightly.
He had never heard of martial artists called the Four Sword Sages, but their eyes gleamed with a refined intensity. There were no traces of drugs, and their auras were upright and noble. These were not cruel demonic practitioners or villains but likely renowned righteous heroes from the past.
“Are you all called Four Sword Sages?”
“We discarded our individual names.” The masked figure, staring into Bu Eunseol’s eyes, spoke calmly. “I am merely the First Sword Sage.”
They had abandoned their names, calling themselves First, Second, Third, and Fourth Sword Sages.
“We all made our names through swordsmanship and shared a desire to create the perfect sword technique.” The First Sword Sage began recounting an unsolicited story. “But we realized that no matter how hard we tried, we couldn’t create a perfect sword technique with our abilities alone.”
“…”
“But what if a skilled swordsman compensated for my flaws? And another compensated for those flaws?”
It was an absurd yet ingenious idea.
Four genius swordsmen compensating for each other’s weaknesses in succession…
Wouldn’t that create a flawless sword technique?
“We named it the Seamless Heavenly Garment Technique. We dedicated everything to perfecting it, even our lives.”
That was why they became the Four Sword Sages.
And Bu Eunseol understood why the First Sword Sage was so talkative.
They had devoted their lives to the way of the sword and wanted their adversary, Bu Eunseol, to recognize their efforts.
“Step aside.” Normally, Bu Eunseol would have cut them down without a word.
But he sensed it.
Beyond that iron gate, beings with immense killing intent were waiting.
He needed to conserve his strength and avoid unnecessary battles.
To save Seo Jinha.
“We can’t do that.” The First Sword Sage, with a hint of remorse, spoke softly.
“It’s a promise.”
“A promise with whom?”
“I can’t tell you that. But…” He pointed to the iron gate behind him.
“We’re only here to prevent you from entering. If you turn back now, we won’t harm you.”
Bu Eunseol felt a sense of unease.
The Bound Asuras, the Mad Heaven Triad, the Four Sword Sages before him, and those beyond the gate. If they had attacked together, he couldn’t have progressed this far so easily. Moreover, the enemies appeared in order of increasing strength.
‘They weren’t trying to kill me.’ Bu Eunseol finally realized.
This trap was a test to gauge his martial prowess precisely…
And a scheme to shatter his spirit using Seo Jinha. Even a powerful force would be exposed if they directly killed Majeon’s successor.
‘It was to break my heart.’
Breaking someone’s spirit was simpler than expected. After overcoming pain and trials to reach a goal, crushing that hope before their eyes would suffice.
Like Bu Eunseol standing before the iron gate guarded by the Four Sword Sages.
They had sent a simple threat with Seo Jinha’s severed ear. This ensured Bu Eunseol clung to the desperate hope that Seo Jinha was alive.
“You won’t turn back.” The First Sword Sage, staring into Bu Eunseol’s icy eyes, drew his sword. “Then show us your skill.”
Bu Eunseol didn’t respond, immediately unleashing Meteor Chasing the Moon. This technique, combining swift and heavy swordplay, was both fast and immensely powerful.
Swish!
The First Sword Sage swiftly extended his sword, instantly suppressing the speed of Meteor Chasing the Moon. Simultaneously, the Second Sword Sage, standing beside him, deployed a technique that completely blocked the heavy force within Meteor Chasing the Moon.
“Impressive.” The First Sword Sage nodded in admiration. “Forcing the Second Sword Sage to act with a single technique.”
His praise was genuine, but Bu Eunseol’s pride was slightly wounded. To think two of them together could block Meteor Chasing the Moon.
“Try blocking this.” Raising his internal energy, Bu Eunseol unleashed the Supreme Heavenly Flow in rapid succession.
Instead of a single technique, he executed three at once, transforming his swordplay into a massive storm that engulfed the First and Second Sword Sages.
Slash! Slash!
Though the First and Second Sword Sages swung their swords side by side, they couldn’t withstand its power and intricacy.
Clang!
With a clear sword cry, the Third Sword Sage stepped forward.
Clatter!
Countering the massive circular sword energy, he perfectly blocked Bu Eunseol’s techniques.
Clang!
Bu Eunseol pressed his assault, trying to break their joint techniques.
But as the First Sword Sage’s techniques were bolstered by the Second, and the Second’s by the Third, he couldn’t penetrate their defense.
Each was a renowned swordsman in the martial world.
By calmly compensating for each other’s techniques, they overwhelmed Supreme Heavenly Flow and even counterattacked. Bu Eunseol could stack Supreme Heavenly Flow up to three techniques at most, yet they blocked it effortlessly.
As sharp sword techniques grazed his skin, blood sprayed from various parts of his body. Their close-range techniques repeatedly disrupted his swordplay, exploiting his vulnerabilities.
Drip, drip.
Blood from Bu Eunseol’s wounds began to stain the floor. Yet, with unwavering eyes, he continued his fierce battle.
“Forcing even the Third Sword Sage to act. Impressive.” The First Sword Sage, mid-technique, showed genuine admiration. “But once the Fourth Sword Sage joins, it’s over.”
He looked regretful as he blocked Bu Eunseol’s swordplay with ease. He had never seen a prodigy like Bu Eunseol, so skilled at such a young age.
Killing him with a single stroke felt like a waste.
“But it can’t be helped.” They had promised to kill Bu Eunseol.
—Kill one person. When we ask.
That was the sole condition of the force that had supported them for over a decade to create the Seamless Heavenly Garment Technique.
“Shall we finish this?”
Clang!
Finally, the Fourth Sword Sage drew his sword.
With the Third Sword Sage matching Bu Eunseol’s skill, the addition of the Fourth would ensure defeat.
“This is the end!”
With a shout, the Fourth Sword Sage’s blade targeted Bu Eunseol’s throat.
