The Lee Clan, the Soongmuiga (崇武李家)
The direct descendants of the Lee clan are all born with special abilities.
This unique power, known as "Ineung" (異能), manifests only in those with a strong concentration of Lee clan blood.
Every child of the Soongmuiga undergoes a special coming-of-age ritual called the "Naming Ceremony" at the age of ten, which awakens their abilities.
In other words, a child of the Lee clan who has not gone through the Naming Ceremony is merely a physically exceptional yet otherwise ordinary child.
"Could it be that I've awakened?"
Even though I knew it was impossible, I couldn't help but mutter those words.
The sensation of magic lingering within me was far too vivid to dismiss as a mere illusion.
"Let's try using it."
I prided myself on knowing more magic techniques than anyone else.
In my previous life, I had desperately sought to make use of my wretched body.
From low-level street magic to the forbidden arts of the back alleys and even the clan's authorized magic techniques—I had dabbled in them all.
But now—
"It's different."
My body… was different.
The twisted, abnormal meridian pathways that had once plagued me were now completely changed.
Perhaps it was because I was still an infant, but my magic circuits were so normal they hardly felt like my own.
A chill ran down my spine.
An unprecedented, bizarre constitution.
I recalled the words of the physician who once examined me—he had been uncertain whether my condition was congenital or acquired.
"Did someone tamper with my body?"
The political dynamics of the clan flashed through my mind.
A child born of an outsider.
Yet, despite that, I had drawn attention from an early age, starting with the Cheolseon Ceremony.
To those who held power within the clan, I must have been a thorn in their side.
Several faces came to mind immediately—Madam Baek, the matriarch of the family; my half-siblings; the Elder Council; the heads of the branch families and vassal houses.
"Come to think of it, something never added up."
The Cheolseon Ceremony, the Naming Ceremony—despite the long years, no one had discovered my unusual constitution. That made no sense.
Someone had attacked me.
Sakjugulgeun—a common tactic used to eliminate future competitors.
"Was it a curse? A spell? Or perhaps poison?"
For such an incident to occur while the Spirit Blade Corps was guarding me…
"…Damn it."
My head felt like it was burning up.
In my past life, I had suffered endlessly because of that cursed magic.
I took a deep breath and exhaled.
"No use worrying about it without solid evidence. More importantly…"
For the first time since my regression, I examined my magic circuits.
"What… is this?"
A black aura swirled at my fingertips.
It was not magic—but an unknown energy.
Something foreign, something that hadn't existed in my past life, had now taken root within me.
I glanced at the nanny before crawling across the room, touching various objects.
Nothing happened.
The last thing left was the decorative saber hanging on the wall behind the sofa.
"…"
I shifted my gaze between the saber, the sofa, and the two-meter-high wall.
"Nanny, just sleep a little longer."
I began climbing onto the sofa, struggling with each movement.
By the time I reached the top of the meter-high couch, my body felt completely drained.
If I had been an ordinary child, I wouldn't have made it up at all.
It seemed the strength of the Soongmuiga bloodline, along with the physical activity I had engaged in out of boredom since my regression, had helped.
"I made it."
Cautiously, I reached for the saber.
Crack—
A sound like metal breaking echoed.
Just like before, the black energy extended, wrapping around the saber.
And once again, unfamiliar memories flashed before my eyes—
A lone warrior raising his sword high.
In response to the rhythmic chants, countless warriors raised their weapons in unison.
An old-fashioned ritual of the family, rarely practiced anymore.
With that, the memory was abruptly cut off.
Suddenly, my body swayed.
I almost tumbled off the sofa. Desperately, I steadied myself with my arms and stared blankly into the air.
'This is… no way…'
A fragment of dark energy flickered at my fingertips, drifting through the air.
When I clenched my hand again, the trace of that energy had vanished without a trace.
***
As the days passed, I found myself moving more and staying awake longer.
My growth was noticeable each time I woke up.
And then, the long-awaited special day arrived.
Cheolseon Ceremony.
A crucial ritual in the family, marking the first step in life, awaited me.
The nanny bustled around from early morning, carefully dressing me up.
She paid meticulous attention to every detail—my clothes, my accessories, even a single strand of hair.
I remained still, leaning against her to make her preparations easier.
"Young Master, everything will go well. Your path will always be bright and prosperous."
Though she knew a newborn couldn't understand her words, my nanny always spoke to me.
In her voice, I could sense heartfelt encouragement and a deep sorrow.
'I suppose that's only natural.'
I was an illegitimate child, left in the family's care without any backing.
My siblings had received magical infusions, elixirs, and special rituals even before birth.
Meanwhile, I had to undergo the ceremony without even absorbing a single common elixir.
'Don't worry, Nanny.'
I gently stroked her cheek.
Her eyes widened in surprise before she smiled warmly.
Just then, Head Butler Choi approached.
"Nanny, follow right behind the Family Head until you reach the ceremony grounds. When it's the Young Master's turn, hand him over to the Family Head."
"Yes."
At his words, my nanny tightened her hold on me anxiously.
I turned my gaze toward the man standing in front of us.
The head of the Yi family, Yi Taeshin.
One of only ten first-class warriors in the world, and even among them, a man considered to be in a league of his own.
'Father…'
In my past life, we had barely crossed paths.
Even when we did, he never once spared me a glance.
At that moment, his eyes met mine.
I did not avert my gaze and stared at him silently.
"Interesting."
A flicker of intrigue appeared in his otherwise expressionless eyes as he looked down at me.
***
Behind my father followed my eighth sister—who was only a few months older than me—her nanny, and then me with my nanny.
Whoosh—!
Passing through an arched corridor, a circular plaza emerged. The stands surrounding it were filled with people watching us.
Branch family members, vassal families, and warriors of the exalted Seungmuiga gathered under the heavens.
All had assembled to witness the birth of a direct descendant of Seungmuiga.
"Loyalty!"
"Loyalty!"
Boom!
Hundreds of warriors stood in formation before Yi Taeshin.
A flawless display of discipline, with not a single movement out of place.
Their weapons soared into the sky, each taking on a unique form.
Though they were arranged according to the type of weapon, each warrior held a slightly different one.
The Iron Rite (鐵禮), a renowned tradition of the Lee family.
It was not a display of empty formalities with ceremonial weapons that would never see use. Instead, it was the solemn ritual of the Martial Clan, paying homage with the weapons they truly wielded.
"Hm."
Clack—!
At Lee Taeshin's brief nod, the warriors in formation took a step back, creating a path.
Lee Taeshin strode toward the ceremonial ground standing tall at the center of the plaza.
Hundreds of weapons were embedded in the ground.
From basic weapons such as swords, sabers, and spears to gauntlets, staffs, bows, and even firearms.
The fact that most of these weapons were masterpieces hinted at the true power of the Martial Clan within the Lee family.
Stepping into the ceremonial ground, Lee Taeshin swept his gaze over the gathered crowd before declaring in a low voice:
"I shall now commence the Iron Selection Ritual. Bring Hua(花) to me."
"Yes."
The eighth child's nanny carefully handed him over to his father.
At the center of the open ceremonial grounds stood a massive stone, carved with a hollow just large enough for a child to lie in.
Lee Taeshin seated the eighth child in the hollow and drew a dagger.
"Waaah—!"
As the dagger made a small cut on the child's fingertip, a few drops of blood dripped onto the stone.
At that moment—
Wuuuung—
A blue light burst forth from the altar, extending like a web toward the many weapons.
Then, all the light converged in one place.
"Oh! That sword… could it be?"
A collective gasp erupted from the crowd.
A white sword radiating brilliant light.
I knew that sword well.
'The Ivory Sword (象牙劍). That's right. The eighth was chosen by the Ivory Sword.'
A legendary blade that had remained dormant for generations.
The Ivory Sword was a sacred relic.
And not just any sacred relic—it was among the highest tier of legendary weapons.
In the distant future, the child who wielded the Ivory Sword would single-handedly cut down hordes of monsters. People would come to call her by a grand title: White Night (白夜).
Fwoosh—
With a simple motion of his hand, Lee Taeshin pulled the Ivory Sword from the altar, as if it had wings of its own.
'Just how much mana does he have to do something like that?'
The distance was at least 15 meters. And considering that the Ivory Sword was a sacred blade with immense magical resistance, pulling it with a mere gesture was an astonishing feat.
What kind of mastery would it take to achieve something like that? I couldn't even begin to fathom.
"The Ivory Sword. A fine blade," Lee Taeshin remarked plainly before continuing.
"The Ivory Sword now belongs to Hua."
With that declaration, he descended from the altar and handed the eighth child back to the nanny.
A bodyguard following closely behind received the Ivory Sword.
Now, it was my turn.
"Young master, you must do well," the nanny whispered quietly in my ear before respectfully passing me to my father.
"The ritual for Yeong(影) shall now begin."
Once again, a dagger traced a cut across my hand.
'Ugh.'
Perhaps because I was in an infant's body, even a shallow cut burned as if I had been scorched.
But since I did not cry, my father's emotionless voice noted:
"Well done."
The first compliment I had ever received in my life… and it was for not crying.
Just as I was feeling a twinge of bitterness, a few drops of my blood fell.
My Iron Selection Ritual had begun.
'Will it be Cheongseong (淸聲) again this time?'
In my past life, the weapon that had chosen me was Cheongseong, a Heavenly-tier sword of the highest grade.
Wuuuung—
Blue light spread across the clearing.
And the moment the light burst forth, silence fell over the ceremonial grounds.