Mok Ri-won was a boy turning seven this year.
He lived in a thatched-roof house deep in a remote mountain village somewhere in Jiangxi Province. His family consisted solely of the elderly man who had raised him, making him a truly sheltered child, utterly unaware of the ways of the world.
Yet, he was also the boy whom a man had taken under his wing in the past, staking his reputation on him.
The boy loved the chirping of small animals as he wandered through the mountain village.
He also loved the elderly man who had taken him in and raised him.
That's why he couldn't help but feel deeply bewildered by the words the old man uttered one day.
"Ri-won, you were born under the Star of Calamity."
Inside the thatched-roof house's main room, Mok Ri-won knelt, blinking up at the old man.
"What's 'Calamity'?"
"It refers to the act of taking a life."
"So, does that mean I'll become someone who takes lives?"
"That's wrong. It's a decision you must make for yourself."
Mok Ri-won tilted his head.
The old man...
The man once hailed as the Sword Saint, Mok Seon-oh, chuckled heartily and shook his head.
"You look confused."
"Yes..."
Mok Seon-oh gazed at the boy.
With his innocent face and blinking eyes, he looked so lovely he could easily pass for a young master from the great city, rather than someone who belonged in this remote mountain valley.
Beneath his jet-black hair were eyes that grew darker each day, shifting from hazel to nearly black. His skin was impossibly fair, and his eyelashes were long and thick.
Still without the defined features of a man, he had a delicate appearance that could easily be mistaken for a girl's, and his gentle nature matched his delicate features.
In the seven years since Mok Seon-oh had taken him in on the day of the Blood Chronicle, the boy had blossomed into such a beautiful youth.
"It's alright if you don't know something. You'll learn it gradually."
Mok Seon-oh stroked Mok Ri-won's hair.
Mok Ri-won blushed and lowered his head.
Mok Seon-oh asked, "Do you understand why I'm telling you this?"
"No..."
"Because I don't want you to grow up to be someone who takes lives."
The old man's eyes met the child's.
"That's why this teacher wants you to grow up to be someone who saves others."
"I like saving people too!"
"Yes, you're a kind child who even saves rabbits caught in traps."
For seven long years, Mok Seon-oh had raised the child with nothing but love. Now, the truth he had to reveal felt cruelly harsh.
How could the Heavenly Emperor bestow such a cruel fate upon such a lovely and pure child? He couldn't help but resent it deeply.
But hiding the truth wouldn't change it.
The Heavenly Killing Star was a star that compelled its bearer to commit slaughter against their will, while simultaneously plunging them into an endless abyss.
Therefore, rather than concealing the truth, it was right to reveal it and help the child cultivate the strength to resist.
"The star that has descended upon you is called the Heavenly Killing Star."
Mok Ri-won's eyes widened at these words.
The child, whose Acuity was exceptional, had already deciphered the meaning of the term from the context of the conversation.
"Is that written with the characters for 'heaven' (天), 'kill' (殺), and 'star' (星)?" he asked.
"Yes, you've already grasped the meaning of the term. You're truly remarkable."
"Hehe..."
"Then you must also know what this star is meant for."
"A star sent by the heavens to take lives!"
Immediately after her confident declaration, Mok Ri-won exclaimed in belated realization, "Ah!"
"Th-then... am I going to become a Killing Fiend?!"
"As I said, it depends entirely on you," the old man replied.
"Depends on me?"
"Yes, entirely on you. You can either accumulate karmic debt by embracing that fate, or resist it with all your might and accumulate Virtuous Deeds."
Mok Ri-won furrowed her brow. After a moment of contemplation, she shook her head and replied, "I don't want karmic debt. It makes me too sad to see animals die."
"Then you must accumulate Virtuous Deeds."
"Yes!" Mok Ri-won's eyes sparkled.
She already knew exactly what the old man would say at the end of this conversation.
"Learning!"
The old man was about to impart knowledge, just as he had taught Mok Ri-won Chinese characters by naming flowers, and as he had given him birdseed to teach him about farming.
He would teach Mok Ri-won something miraculous and astonishing.
Mok Seon-oh understood the child's anticipation.
Without unnecessary words, he met the boy's expectations head-on.
"This master will teach you Martial Arts."
"Martial Arts?"
"Yes, Martial Arts. If you learn this well, you could become someone who can defeat even a tiger in battle."
Mok Ri-won's mouth fell agape.
A tiger.
It was the largest and most terrifying creature Mok Ri-won knew, and simultaneously, the strongest animal in the world.
"So, I'll become the Strongest Under Heaven!"
"Strongest Under Heaven... Yes, with the talent you've been given, it's not impossible."
Mok Seon-oh smiled.
He couldn't help but wonder if the child's understanding of "Strongest Under Heaven" differed slightly from his own.
The Heavenly Killing Star is a peerless martial talent.
A Killing Fiend bestowed by the heavens.
True to its name, the Heavenly Killing Star bestows upon its chosen one an extraordinary gift for martial arts.
In other words, if the child trained diligently, reaching the pinnacle of martial prowess might not be an unattainable goal.
Mok Ri-won blushed crimson and grinned.
Watching the boy, Mok Seon-oh said, "Then, will you promise me just one thing?"
"Huh?"
"Will you promise me to use the martial arts I teach you for the sake of hyeop?"
"Hyeop?"
"Yes, hyeop. It refers to righteous and just deeds."
"What kind of deeds are righteous and just?"
"The path that aligns with your convictions, the path you believe is right."
This was a difficult concept for the child to grasp.
Mok Ri-won furrowed his brow deeply, his confusion palpable.
Mok Seon-oh chuckled heartily and simplified his explanation.
"Hyeop is a lifelong study. You may never find a definitive answer."
"Then am I never allowed to use martial arts?"
"No."
Mok Seon-oh gazed directly at the child.
With his most earnest voice yet, he continued, "What I mean is, you must contemplate hyeop in every moment as you use your martial arts."
Mok Ri-won gazed intently at the old man.
He always greeted Mok Ri-won with a smile, but occasionally wore a wistful expression like the one he had now.
In these moments, Mok Ri-won always did the same thing:
"Yes! I will always strive to be someone who contemplates justice!"
He gave an answer that would make the old man smile.
He smiled brightly first, hoping to make the old man smile in return.
"...Truly admirable."
Fortunately, this time as well, the old man smiled back.
"Martial Arts is a discipline that tempers the body and cultivates the mind."
In the courtyard of the thatched hut, Mok Ri-won stood attentively listening to the old man's words.
"It's a discipline that forges individuals who stand firmly rooted amidst all things, allowing them to take a step closer to truth. We call it Martial Arts."
"Who are 'we'?"
"The Martial World."
Mok Seon-oh explained further, "It's a society of martial artists who have mastered Martial Arts—a small society formed by a forest of martial artists."
"Then are all members of the Martial World chivalrous heroes?"
It was a natural question for Mok Ri-won to ask. Mok Seon-oh had said that Martial Arts should be used for chivalry and that all members of the Martial World practiced Martial Arts. According to that logic, shouldn't all members of the Martial World naturally be chivalrous heroes?
Mok Seon-oh gave a bitter smile and shook his head.
"Not everyone is like that. No, now that I think about it, there may be many who shout about justice, but few who truly practice it."
"Are they bad people?"
"Well, even this master doesn't know for sure."
Once, Mok Seon-oh had branded those who turned their backs on justice as villains, condemning those who lived for profit rather than morality.
But now, Mok Seon-oh understood: their justice simply lay in a different place than his own. The justice they held in their hearts took on a different form.
"This is something you must judge for yourself as you experience the world. Let's save our words and return to the story I was telling."
"Ah, yes!"
"In any case, Martial Arts, with such fundamental principles, is a discipline that requires focusing on its inherent meaning rather than mere power."
Mok Seon-oh finally lowered the hands he had been holding behind his back.
Finally, Mok Ri-won caught sight of the old sword in Mok Seon-oh's hand.
"This master will show you just a glimpse."
Swish.
The sword was drawn.
Despite its weathered appearance, the blade was honed to a razor-sharp edge—any martial artist could instantly recognize that this weapon had been meticulously maintained.
Saaah.
The sound of wind rising.
But what followed this sound widened Mok Ri-won's eyes in astonishment.
"...Stars."
In the bright midday sun, stars danced before his eyes, obscuring his vision.
The sword Mok Seon-oh had drawn was drenched in a chilling starlight.
"Falling Star Seven Swords," Mok Seon-oh declared.
"This is the name of the martial arts you will learn from now on, Ri-won."
Mok Seon-oh's arm swayed.
What unfolded next was a breathtaking sword dance that would forever be etched in Mok Ri-won's memories.
Late at night, Mok Ri-won huddled under his blanket, trying to fall asleep, but his attempts were futile.
It wasn't for any particular reason, really.
The image of Mok Seon-oh's sword from earlier that day kept swirling in his mind.
Falling Star Seven Swords...!
The swordsmanship he would soon begin learning.
A beautiful art that seemed to embroider the air with shimmering starlight.
I want to learn it so badly!
Mok Ri-won imagined himself wielding a gleaming white sword, performing a graceful dance that illuminated the entire forest.
Thump.
Thump.
His young heart raced wildly.
A wide grin stretched across his face, refusing to fade.
Mok Ri-won then recalled:
Martial Arts are classified into realms based on skill level. From lowest to highest, they are Third-Rate, Second-Rate, First-Rate, Peak, and Super-Peak. These five are the fundamental categories.
What about the fundamentals?
Yes, that means there are higher levels as well. But it's not something to worry about just yet. After all, when studying, if you focus too much on the distant future, you'll neglect what you need to learn right now. For now, just focus on what you're learning.
Today was the day Mok Ri-won learned the most basic principles.
He deliberately let the excitement that kept him awake linger, reviewing the day's lessons in his mind.
I'm Third-Rate!
Still unable to truly enter the martial path, he couldn't sense Qi and couldn't even wield a sword properly.
But Mok Ri-won wasn't worried.
Strongest Under Heaven... Well, with the talent you've inherited, it's not impossible.
His master had declared his talent unequivocally, leaving no room for doubt.
He was certain he possessed a natural gift for the sword.
Just like he'd seen during the day, he'd be able to summon stars that shone brightly even under the sun.
Mok Ri-won recalled the events of the day.
His eyes began to glow with a dreamy light.
"...A realm capable of emitting stars."
The martial world called it the Peak Realm.
Sword Qi Manifestation, Won-ah. That's what we call what you saw. Only upon reaching this realm do we truly earn the title of 'master'.
Mok Seon-oh had used this term to describe the star Ri-won had witnessed earlier that day.
The immediate thought that crossed Ri-won's mind was: Can I achieve this?
But he quickly shook his head, dispelling the doubt.
He said I could.
His master had assured him unequivocally.
He promised I would become the Strongest Under Heaven. There's no reason to doubt him.
Mok Ri-won inhaled deeply, calming his body, and closed his eyes.
His thoughts drifted no further.
A child's body was so vulnerable to fatigue that Mok Ri-won drifted off to sleep mid-thought.