Chapter 13 - 12: Blade That Cuts Peace
In the heart of Mt. Mugang stood the imposing structure of the Mugang Martial Pavilion, a fortress of stone and steel nestled among the jagged cliffs. Though neutral in name and tradition, it held within its walls some of the most skilled martial artists in Jeonghwa. Among them were the Twelve Blades, each an undisputed expert in their own right, chosen not only for strength but for leadership.
And at the apex of them all was the man known as the First Blade—Do Giseon.
He sat alone in the pavilion’s inner chamber, where a solitary brazier burned, its flames flickering low but hot. A scroll lay unrolled before him, its surface marked with the names of the tournament participants. Among them, one name had been circled thrice, red ink bled into the parchment.
"Eun Haria (은하리아)," he muttered under his breath, fingers tapping the side of his chair. "Successor to the Yeonhwa Lotus Palace. Just a little girl with a pretty face and a famous bloodline."
He leaned forward, elbow resting on his knee, and smirked with cold amusement. The fire in the brazier cast shadows across his scarred face, sharpening his gaze.
"They’ve remained above us for too long. Righteous, detached, untouched. That Palace of Women, with their petals and poisons... they think neutrality means weakness. They think we’ll always be the Pavilion that stands between the factions, never choosing a side. But they’ve forgotten... blades are not meant to balance. They’re meant to cut."
A knock sounded at the door.
"Come in," Do Giseon said, not bothering to lift his eyes.
The door opened and a masked man entered, wearing robes darkened with ash and wind. The faint insignia of the Crimson Flow Blade Union was barely visible on the edge of his inner collar, but the First Blade didn’t need to see it. He already knew.
"You’re late," Giseon said dryly.
"We were delayed by a... beast," the man replied, kneeling. "We lost a squad of Experts. Something or someone got there first."
Giseon’s brow twitched. "Someone?"