Martial Arts Ain’t That Big of a Deal

The Deepest Depths of the Underworld.

Namgung Jincheon opened his eyes.

[Hear me, sinner Namgung Jincheon…!]

The darkness clouding his vision receded, colors returning to his sight.

Namgung Jincheon raised his head. The surroundings were drenched in crimson. Faint echoes of human groans resounded. The sickening squelch of flesh and bone being crushed.

Before him stood a massive tribunal, and upon its towering platform loomed an entity just as immense, staring down at Namgung Jincheon.

[You have disrupted the order of the Underworld by tethering a soul and memories to the living realm!]

His body felt unbearably heavy, as if he had returned to an era long past—an era before he had mastered martial arts.

[That alone is a crime heavier than Mount Tai itself!]

The giant before him. Namgung Jincheon instinctively understood who it was.

Yama.

The god of the Underworld, the arbiter of all sins committed in life.

[Bring forth the sinner Yeon So-hee!]

His mind snapped into clarity. Yeon So-hee. A name he had never once forgotten.

[My wife…?]

A woman was dragged forth by the hands of the Underworld’s jailers. Tossed onto the ground, she lifted her gaze, her tear-filled eyes locking onto Namgung Jincheon.

[Sang-gong… I’m sorry… Because of me, even you…]

Her voice—every delicate fragment of it—seeped into his heart.

He didn’t know why she was apologizing. He didn’t care. She had done nothing wrong.

Even if she had committed an unforgivable crime, it did not matter. His heart pounded wildly simply because he could see her face with his own eyes.

Thump— Thump—

A heartbeat. A pulse that should have long since ceased filled Namgung Jincheon’s face with life.

Yama bellowed.

[Sinner Yeon So-hee left fragments of her soul and memories in the mortal world, disturbing the flow of reincarnation! Do you acknowledge your crime?]

Yeon So-hee clenched her teeth.

[I… I didn’t know this would happen! Even if it was a crime, how can you hold my Sang-gong accountable for it…!]
[Insolence…!]