Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 109
Chapter Title: Plum Blossom Tempest
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"It's different."
The Taiji Sword Lord murmured softly. The Bandit Hero sitting beside him felt the exact same thing. He let out a hollow chuckle and stroked his chin.
"The Mount Hua Sect's Sword Phoenix... I was impressed even during the preliminaries. But now... Ha ha. It's utterly astonishing."
"She seems to have steadied her mind."
"Against an injured opponent?"
"The two are close. Some time ago, that kid Wi Seong-cheon asked me about the sword theory on active swords and the heart that Sword Phoenix had taught him."
The Taiji Sword Lord murmured to himself. Back then, he had been genuinely awed upon hearing U Ha-yeon's words relayed through Wi Seong-cheon's mouth.
"It was already high enough as it was... Ha ha. But that kid's sword was even higher."
"Isn't she only twenty-three now? Unbelievable."
The Bandit Hero muttered like that, furrowing his brows.
"If only Bang Jun took after her even halfway."
As he said that, the Bandit Hero noticed the shoulders of Mount Hua Sect's sect leader, Falling Flower Silent Flame Song Jin-il, who was sitting right in front of him, trembling faintly.
The man was famous for being as taciturn as a mute, yet he couldn't possibly remain composed knowing that two of the Ten Heroes behind him were marveling at his disciple's astonishing achievement.
"You little shit, what's got you grinning like that?"
Finding the sight annoying, the Bandit Hero kicked Song Jin-il's back with his foot. Song Jin-il shook with each kick but clenched his fists tightly, holding back both laughter and tears.
'Outstanding.'
His disciple was one he wouldn't mind poking his eyes out for. Falling Flower Silent Flame believed without a doubt that U Ha-yeon's talent was the greatest in Mount Hua's history. Yet, she had never once won the Yi Cheon Festival.
He had never been dissatisfied or pressured her for it, but that didn't mean he felt no regret.
'I'll win it.'
Last night, when he had visited to encourage her.
U Ha-yeon had smiled brightly at her surprised master and said,
"Sword Phoenix..."
The Black Demon King was equally stunned. He slowly turned his gaze to the side.
"What do you think, Alliance Leader?"
"She's brilliant."
It was monumental. The Murim Alliance Leader, White Army Gam Tae-jun, and the Black Death Alliance Leader, Black Demon King Baek Ri-mu-won, were sitting together. For hundreds of years since the murim had divided into righteous and evil factions, how many years had it been since leaders of opposing forces sat side by side like this?
"Indeed, you have excellent judgment."
The Black Demon King smirked as he spoke. Gam Tae-jun couldn't take the words at face value. They sounded like mockery, implying he couldn't comprehend such a level.
But Gam Tae-jun didn't show any displeasure. He was keenly aware that he hadn't become Alliance Leader through superior martial arts.
"You're too kind."
Watching Gam Tae-jun whose expression never changed, the Black Demon King shrugged. He didn't let his pride show even when it should have been wounded.
Even someone who held the Alliance Leader position without top-tier martial arts should care about face.
'As expected, the one chosen by Infinite Light Buddha has the qualifications.'
"The title Sword Phoenix feels insufficient to contain that girl's martial prowess. In the next ten years, she could be called Sword Empress."
The Black Demon King spoke sincerely. Gam Tae-jun was a bit surprised that the supreme figure of the evil murim would praise her so highly. The Black Demon King clicked his tongue regretfully and muttered,
"If only my daughter were that exceptional."
"...I've heard Black Cherry also possesses remarkable talent."
"For my daughter, it's mediocre at best."
The Black Demon King's voice grew icy. There was no parental warmth in his words. Sensing that, Gam Tae-jun shut his mouth and said no more. Black Cherry and Snow Flower, flowers of the Four Blossoms among the evil faction. Black Cherry Baek Ri-hyung was the Black Demon King's daughter.
But the Black Demon King neither loved nor acknowledged his daughter.
'Black Cherry is not the Black Demon King's disciple.'
Gam Tae-jun averted his gaze from the Black Demon King and looked down below.
'The Black Demon King once said her talent was too lacking to ever take as a disciple. Then who is the Black Demon King's disciple?'
He wouldn't answer even if asked. Gam Tae-jun let go of the lingering thought and narrowed his eyes.
Dormant Dragon and Sword Phoenix.
'...I'm envious.'
The thought crossed his mind.
Gam Tae-jun envied their talent and youth.
"How's your body holding up, junior?"
The spar had already begun.
Yet U Ha-yeon hadn't even drawn her sword yet, simply asking that. Wi Seong-cheon steadied his breathing and slowly moved his right hand behind his back. Seeing him assume a one-handed stance behind his back, U Ha-yeon chuckled softly.
"You're not planning to use your right hand, are you? Good thinking."
"Aren't you worried it might be a trick?"
"Then I'll slice you up whole."
U Ha-yeon said with a smile. It was a savage statement utterly at odds with her smile.
"No joke. If you keep using that right hand of yours, junior, it'll be ruined for good. It'll just become useless meat, and if you're unlucky, it might even necrotize. So let me cut it off for you."
Just at the wrist. U Ha-yeon stroked her own wrist and smiled. ...She meant it. Wi Seong-cheon shuddered and shook his head.
"That won't happen. Don't talk so viciously. It's scary."
"I have to sound scary or you won't listen. And I told you yesterday."
As the audience began murmuring at the two who hadn't clashed despite the spar starting, U Ha-yeon's hand moved to her sword hilt.
The moment her slender fingers gripped the hilt.
The spectators watching the distant sparring ground felt the same sharpened sword intent and plum blossom fragrance that Wi Seong-cheon had.
"I'll put you in your place."
Slowly.
The sword slid from its sheath. His heart pounded as if it would burst. There was no killing intent in U Ha-yeon's sword will. But even a bladewithout killing intent, if honed to a razor edge, could instill dread just by sight.
That was the 'sword'. A well-forged sword summoned death and wielded it. The sword held that bewitching power.
"A demonic sword..."
The Taiji Sword Lord murmured. U Ha-yeon, who enchanted even sword masters just by being seen, truly felt like a demonic sword. It was shocking talent.
Not only had she perfectly achieved unity of body and sword, but her mind as well...
'At what age did I reach that level?'
The Taiji Sword Lord chuckled unwittingly.
"The foremost sword sect of the next generation will be Mount Hua. That'll weigh heavy on Bright Radiance's shoulders..."
No.
'The one whose shoulders are heavy right now...'
Dormant Dragon Wi Seong-cheon. Against the sword-drawn U Ha-yeon, he couldn't move rashly.
He couldn't see how to move. Against U Ha-yeon who simply stood gripping her sword, there were no openings.
If they stayed in deadlock like this, could he find a gap? No, he couldn't.
Deciding that, Wi Seong-cheon slowly stepped forward. Defeat was expected. His father had told him to feel, learn, and return. If he gained something from it, nothing could be better.
'Can I gain something?'
It would depend on him.
"You don't have to go easy on me, senior."
U Ha-yeon simply smiled brightly without answering.
The principle of Profound Flow Divine Stance was 'not resisting'. Viewing attacks as 'flow' and moving along without resistance. The exhausted body flows with the attack upon contact, rendering it futile.
'Can I flow...?'
U Ha-yeon's sword emitted no sword aura or sword beam. It was merely a blade. Against such a sword, Profound Flow Divine Stance should work. ...Really?
"I'm going to cut."
U Ha-yeon warned softly, and Wi Seong-cheon charged forward. His exhausted body accelerated in an instant. Faster, even faster. Before the sword swung. He ran hoping only for that.
The sword moved. Unlike Wi Seong-cheon's speed, U Ha-yeon's sword was not fast. It was slow enough that it couldn't be called quicksword.
But that gently swinging sword made Wi Seong-cheon instinctively halt his advance.
"Good."
The sword's movement didn't stop. It wasn't even within reach.
Was it really?
'Not just the sword.'
Foot.
The distance closed in an instant. Wi Seong-cheon twisted his body in alarm. The once-slow sword had accelerated, aiming for his body.
But it didn't cut. Or did it not? Wi Seong-cheon hurriedly dragged his foot back. U Ha-yeon had reached the main tournament without shedding blood. Her sword had never once cut an opponent.
It wasn't that she couldn't. She didn't. Her opponents realized this and acknowledged defeat upon sensing the vast gap.
That was why those who fought U Ha-yeon avoided her. Her sword was merciful yet cruel.
'If she doesn't cut on purpose.'
He wouldn't use his right hand. Wi Seong-cheon's left arm hung limp from exhaustion. He whipped it out like a lash, aiming for the gap the sword had passed.
"Wrong."
U Ha-yeon murmured.
Her hand spun. The hilt gripped in her hand struck Wi Seong-cheon's forearm. His arm buzzed and stopped. U Ha-yeon's body tilted. She didn't swing her sword. Instead, her tilted shoulder and pressed-left hand touched Wi Seong-cheon's chest.
Crack!
With a dull sound, Wi Seong-cheon's feet were pushed back. He had deployed Profound Flow Divine Stance just before, but couldn't fully divert the impact.
His chest throbbed as if clogged, and a metallic taste filled his mouth.
A few steps apart. U Ha-yeon's sword wavered. Slow or fast, light or heavy.
Mount Hua's sword, encompassing all, was infinitely variable.
Shoulder and arm movements, muscle twitches, gaze. Wi Seong-cheon was adept at reading attack trajectories from such cues.
But now he couldn't tell. Because the distance was too close? If it were farther, could he see?
'No.'
Too flashy. Slow becomes fast, then slow again. Feint from real indistinguishable. Breath rose to his throat. Moments splintered endlessly.
His whole body's muscles screamed.
In each splintered instant, Wi Seong-cheon kept moving. His eye muscles felt torn. His pupils burned. How much time had passed? Probably not even a quarter of an hourglass.
Yet it felt eternally long. Dodge, dodge... That was all he thought. Surprise flickered in U Ha-yeon's eyes.
She hadn't expected Wi Seong-cheon to move this much.
'What. She's the one not cutting.'
Dodging was all he could do. Could he push in a bit more? Return Flow and Individual Advance were already active. Wi Seong-cheon's body moved in what could be called its 'optimal' state now.
But slow. Too slow. He couldn't shake U Ha-yeon's sword at all. It clung like a shadow to his feet, inseparable.
'If faster.'
Could he shake it then?
"That's what you'd think, junior."
In that instant, her voice came.
Through his sweat-drenched bangs, U Ha-yeon's face appeared. She smiled brightly at Wi Seong-cheon.
A pure smile impossible from the wielder of that variable, chilling sword.
'Illusion?'
Just recalling words he'd heard before? Or had U Ha-yeon told him directly? But the sword didn't stop.
A fierce sword strike came to cleave that radiant smile.
'Must shake it off...'
No.
He couldn't. In that moment, Wi Seong-cheon realized. Profound Flow Divine Stance didn't resist the flow. He knew that, had been doing it since earlier. Flowing without resisting the sword's trajectory to avoid cuts, to shake it off.
'Ah.'
Literally.
That's what you'd think. Not resisting yet trying to shake it off. But that was natural. If not, he'd be cut. Was he afraid of being cut?
'No.'
He slowed his actions. Forced his flinching body upright. Ignored the instinctual dread of the blade's sharpness.
Yes, he wanted to shake off that sword. But he couldn't. Because he was weaker than Senior U Ha-yeon's sword.
If he couldn't shake it off,
Then that was fine.
Slash!
His uniform and skin tore together. Thin blood sprayed. But shallow. The pain of the blade slicing skin was chilling, but Wi Seong-cheon didn't stop moving.
The sword that grazed his skin returned. He couldn't read the trajectory, but hoped to feel it.
'A little.'
His resolve to yield to the variable flow of U Ha-yeon's sword altered his body's movements. His previously stifled breathing eased for a moment.
'I can feel it.'
The Taiji Sword Lord clenched his fist and widened his eyes. Wi Seong-cheon's movement had changed in that instant. The Bandit Hero and Black Demon King also sensed the shift.
'He's using Intent Body.'
Even without opening the upper dantian, the Intent Body had formed. Not perfect, but now Wi Seong-cheon sensed U Ha-yeon's sword through Intent Body's qi sense before physical sensation, aligning his body to the Intent Body's movements.
'I knew he used Intent Body unconsciously. But now...?'
Was he aware? Or still unconsciously like before?
'Not just Intent Body. His overall movement improved. Despite inner injuries disrupting qi flow...'
The Black Demon King's eyes narrowed. Soon, he realized something and smirked.
'He grasped a glimpse. Thanks to being driven to the brink of death...'
An inexplicable sensation.
Despite inner injuries, qi flow felt smooth. Faster, fiercer than before. His screaming body felt more 'in tune' than ever. As if...
'Finally becoming one.'
This feeling was unfamiliar. Everyone's body was one from birth, yet now it felt unified for the first time.
'Ah.'
Was this perfect unity? Wi Seong-cheon's body shook. Only now did he raise his left hand and clench a fist.
He'd been desperate to dodge, but now...
He felt he could do it.
"Good."
U Ha-yeon murmured.
Wi Seong-cheon's fist thrust out. The distance was close. U Ha-yeon smiled even as the fist approached.
Whoosh!
Wi Seong-cheon's eyes widened. An impossible sight filled his vision. Countless plum trees in full bloom, scattering petals.
Wi Seong-cheon staggered back. The scene vanished. He realized the red petals he'd seen were blood droplets spraying from his body.
"...Ha."
Wi Seong-cheon laughed in disbelief. His still-extended left fist felt ridiculous.
"What was that?"
He thought he was standing.
His vision seemed low, and before he knew it, he was on his knees.
"Plum Blossom Tempest."
U Ha-yeon, passing by Wi Seong-cheon, answered. She slowly sheathed her bloodless sword and turned to him.
"Winning without cutting was impossible."
U Ha-yeon murmured with a bittersweet smile.
"...You could've cut sooner."
"No."
U Ha-yeon shook her head.
"Earlier, it wasn't that I chose not to cut you, junior. I couldn't. You... were truly dodging my sword."
"Huh."
Wi Seong-cheon let out a surprised sound and looked up at the sky.
"Plum Blossom Tempest."
Wi Seong-cheon murmured that and closed his eyes.
"...No helping it."
With those final words, Wi Seong-cheon's consciousness faded.