lee Do-hyun sat quietly in front of Igo's Sword. The blade remained still, yet his mind was in turmoil.

"If you don't move according to my will, then isn't it you who wields me instead? No, this reversal of roles is getting ridiculous."

He murmured to himself.

"Isn't a sword supposed to move according to its master's will? I want to wield you, not the other way around."

At that moment, a cold, low voice resonated from the sword.

"It is because you are still lacking. I chose you because I saw your potential. However, you are still incomplete."

Do-Hyun smirked as he looked at the sword.

"Ha, what is this? A twisted kind of quality assurance? Even the strictest Murim masters aren't this relentless."

He sighed and looked down at the sword.

"They call it a blessing, but right now, it feels more like a curse. And yet… without this sword, I wouldn't last long in Murim. That's what bothers me the most."

The next day, Chunhyang visited Dohyeon's room. Seeing him deep in thought in front of the sword, she chuckled.

"Do-Hyun, you look as if you're carrying the weight of the entire world on your shoulders. It's about the sword, isn't it?"

Dohyeon glanced at her and replied.

"Yeah. This sword doesn't listen to me. It's like a rebellious teenager."

Chunhyang chuckled at his words.

"A rebellious sword? That's quite an amusing analogy. But perhaps a sword is like a person. Maybe you need to reach out to it first for it to accept you."

Do-Hyun folded his arms, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Reaching out to the sword… What, should I take it out for dinner to bond with it?"

Chun-hyang smiled as she responded.

"Not quite like that. You need to show genuine sincerity. In Murim, even the sharpest blade won't become yours unless your heart reaches it first."

In the garden, Han Soyeon was checking her sword. Her sharp, precise movements left a strong impression. Dohyeon cautiously approached her and asked,

"So-yeon, what do you think is the most important thing when handling a sword?"

Without even looking up, So-yeon replied indifferently.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"What matters is that the sword is in your hands. If the sword follows a will other than your own, then it's nothing more than a lump of metal."

Do-Hyun flinched slightly at her words.

"Then… what if the sword doesn't follow my will?"

Soyeon glanced at him with a smirk.

"Then perhaps you've failed to understand the sword's will. Blades don't trust easily… Or maybe, it was never meant to be yours to begin with."

With that final remark, she let out a small chuckle and walked away. Dohyeon mulled over her words, murmuring to himself.

"Picked the wrong sword? What, am I supposed to return it? Too bad I don't even know where it came from…"

The combination of Chun-hyang's gentle advice and So-yeon's passing remark left a lingering impression in his mind. Holding the sword again, he spoke softly.

"Alright, I admit that I don't understand you yet. But you chose me too, didn't you? Let's try to work together."

Gripping the sword firmly, he sighed.

"Tell me what I need to do to become one with you. If not, I'll figure it out myself. So at least cooperate a little. In this day and age, teamwork is everything."

Though the sword remained silent, its weight in his hand felt slightly closer than before.

"I may be far from ready… but mark my words, I will make this sword mine—no matter what it takes."

*********************************

Jang Yeongpil returned to his family, reflecting on the recent events.

"So what if the sword chose him? Against my Iron Armor, it's nothing but a dull blade."

Satisfied with his victory, he departed, though inwardly wary of what kind of power Lee do-hyun might wield once he fully bonded with his sword.

Meanwhile, near Pungwolru, Han So-yeon was deep in thought about the recent battle. She murmured to herself,

"That man… He showed remarkable strength against me. So why did he collapse like brittle glass before Jang Yeongpil?"

She wanted to reassess Do-hyeon's skills but decided not to interfere this time.

"If I step in again, people will think I'm overestimating him."

Elsewhere, Jin Baekwoo and Oh Cheonho ran into each other at a tavern near Pungwolru after Jang Yeongpil had left.

Baekwoo slammed his massive club onto the table and spoke.

"Oi, you're really just gonna leave with your tail between your legs? After Yeongpil's little show? That's pathetic."

Cheonho twirled his teacup and calmly responded.

"And what's the point of getting involved? If Yeongpil couldn't settle it, we certainly won't gain anything from this mess. If that guy was really impressive, Yeongpil would have finished the fight properly."

Baekwoo scoffed.

"Still, don't you find it strange? I heard he fought decently against Han Soyeon, yet he got crushed by Yeongpil. What gives?"

Cheonho pondered for a moment before replying.

"It could be a matter of compatibility. Or perhaps, he hasn't fully mastered the sword that chose him."

Baekwoo lifted his club with a grin.

"Alright, then I'll go see for myself. If his sword is truly special, it'll have to withstand my club."

Cheonho remained silent for a moment before nodding.

"Fine. You go first. If you can't finish it, I'll step in. If neither of us gets anywhere, we walk away."

That evening, Baekwoo and Cheonho arrived at Pungwolru. Baekwoo called out loudly,

"Lee do-hyun! We've come to see if the rumors about you are true. You fell so easily against Jang Yeongpil, yet people say you wield a great sword? Let's find out!"

Hearing the commotion, Do-hyeon slowly stepped outside. He had yet to recover from his fight with Yeong-pil, but he did his best to maintain composure.

"And what is it this time? Are you here to challenge me?"

Baekwoo raised his club.

"That's right. I want to see for myself if your sword is really that special. This time, it won't be Iron Armor—you'll be facing my club. One hit is all it'll take."

Dohyeon sighed.

"Is it common in Murim to constantly test each other's skills? People keep coming to challenge me, and it's honestly exhausting."

Cheonho stepped forward and calmly spoke.

"The rumors about you are too intriguing. We just want to see whether they hold any truth. In Murim, if rumors aren't backed by skill, they disappear quickly."

Dohyeon slowly gripped his sword and muttered.

"If the sword betrays me again… I'll lose more than just this fight. But refusing now would only feed their doubts."

He looked at Baekwoo and spoke.

"Alright, I accept your challenge. But understand—this is merely a test between me and my sword. Don't expect anything more from it."

Baekwoo swung his club confidently.

"If your sword is as great as they say, then let's see it withstand my club!"

Baekwoo's colossal club thundered downward, carving through the air with brutal force toward Dohyeon's blade. Dohyeon twisted his body to evade, but in that moment, the sword moved on its own again, blocking the strike.

"So the sword moves on its own, huh? It's not you wielding it."

Baekwoo pressed forward relentlessly, forcing Dohyeon to rely on the sword's independent movements to defend himself.

Yet, as the battle continued, Dohyeon felt his limitations.

"If this continues, I'll remain a puppet to this blade's will. I must master it—or forever fight as a slave to its power."

The sword's voice rang in his head.

"You are still lacking. Show me your will, or I will cease aiding you."

Gritting his teeth, Dohyeon began striking back, attempting to synchronize with the sword rather than simply relying on it.

Watching from the sidelines, Cheonho narrowed his eyes.

"If Baekwoo's strength is at this level, then Lee do-hyun isn't to be underestimated either… If this fight ends, I'll take my turn next."

"With each clash of steel, a new legend began to carve its mark into the ever-shifting saga of Murim."