Chapter 115
Chapter 115
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 115
Chapter Title: Sword Dragon's Confession
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“I lost.”
Expectations being betrayed—this was exactly what that phrase was meant for. The moment the semifinal match began, Dang Seona declared it outright.
The spectators were thrown into great confusion by her sudden concession, but her opponent, Mu Yeonjun, showed no surprise.
From the moment they faced each other, he had sensed no will to fight in Dang Seona at all, and that she had made no preparations whatsoever for battle.
“Is that enough for you?”
Mu Yeonjun asked in a quiet voice as Dang Seona passed by him on her way down. She let out a smirk at the question.
“There’s no reason for me to fight anymore. I don’t even want to. And if we did, I’d lose anyway…”
Mu Yeonjun said nothing in response. Dang Seona smirked again as she felt the sharp edge of his aura.
“Here’s a bit of advice.”
“Your advice has always been useless.”
Mu Yeonjun, you’re the type who couldn’t even become the village head of some backwater hamlet, let alone Alliance Leader.
Because in the end, you only care about yourself. Just like someone special would. Or maybe, for fulfilling your destiny of demon extermination, that’s actually a good thing?
Back in Gansu, Dang Seona had given Mu Yeonjun that advice. He had never forgotten those words.
She had blatantly prodded at his emotions then, but even as he heard them, Mu Yeonjun felt not the slightest anger.
“Advice is always bitter, isn’t it? Mu Yeonjun, you can’t win this.”
Mu Yeonjun stared at her with cold, sunken eyes.
“You’d do well to steel yourself for that. But honestly, I’d love to see it. You, born as the Heavenly One, raised solely to fulfill the Heavenly One’s destiny… I personally want to see if you can accept this defeat. Or if you’ll twist yourself up in denial over it.”
“You can’t win every time.”
Mu Yeonjun replied in a quiet voice.
“Sword Peak is strong. I know that full well. Perhaps, as you say, I’ll lose to her and fail to win the Eocheon Tournament. If so, all those who’ve pinned their hopes on me as the Heavenly One will be disappointed.”
But. Mu Yeonjun paused and glared at Dang Seona.
“That doesn’t make me any less the Heavenly One, even if they’re disappointed. If Sword Peak defeats me tomorrow, I’ll gladly accept that loss. And I’ll recognize my shortcomings and refine myself further. Regrettably, Lady Sahee, things won’t go as you wickedly hope.”
“A fine answer. As expected of the Heavenly One.”
Dang Seona sneered.
“But the too-straight branch is bound to snap.”
“What’s new about that? Heavenly Ones before me have snapped countless times already.”
Mu Yeonjun turned away.
“I might break too, failing in my duty. But not tomorrow.”
I really hate him.
Dang Seona thought as she passed by Mu Yeonjun. She could never like this man who so rigidly put his convictions first and acted with unyielding integrity. She had always felt that way.
Dang Seona knew Mu Yeonjun from his childhood. From the age of five, he had been a disciple of the Poison Dance Sovereign, enduring all manner of poisons to become immune to them, while simultaneously “tempering” his body.
The Poison Dance Sovereign had been the Heavenly One’s first master as a child. Though he hadn’t passed on his secret poison arts, he had been tasked with enhancing the innate superior foundations of the born Heavenly One.
Dang Seona had met Mu Yeonjun from that time. Before she had formally become the Poison Dance Sovereign’s disciple. Back when she had caught his eye and been granted permission to enter the secluded annex that no one from the Tang Clan could carelessly step into.
In a room crawling with venomous insects and serpents, she had seen Mu Yeonjun, his innocence being systematically stripped away.
Dozens of venomous snakes tore at his body, and insects burrowed into his flesh everywhere, yet Mu Yeonjun didn’t scream even once.
She would never forget that sight. A boy the same age as her beloved little sister was enduring that horrific, brutal ordeal solely because he was the Heavenly One.
As he taught Mu Yeonjun, the Poison Dance Sovereign learned how to train a child. The methods verified through Mu Yeonjun were passed directly to Dang Seona. And through that horrific training, she vowed.
I’ll never let my little sister go through this.
“What a shame. I’d had some hopes, you know.”
“What do you mean?”
“I thought it’d be nice if you won and advanced, so we could face off in the finals.”
U Haryeon said with a broad grin. Dang Seona let out a hollow laugh and shook her head.
“Does that mean I’m an easier opponent than the Heavenly One?”
“No, that’s not it. You’re both tough. But for me, fighting you, Seona, feels less burdensome than facing the Heavenly One, who carries so much on his shoulders. At least you wouldn’t grieve a loss.”
“You just don’t want the resentment. How petty.”
“Yeah, I’m not used to being resented.”
U Haryeon said as she caressed the sword at her waist. Dang Seona stared into U Haryeon’s eyes, tinged with loneliness, and asked.
“Then why not forfeit midway like before? You’ve never once tried to win, Senior.”
“I was planning to do that this time too, but I went and made a promise.”
“…A promise?”
“That I’d win.”
U Haryeon stood up.
“If I can’t help it, fine. But if I can and don’t, that’s breaking a promise. Sorry to Heemyeong and Yeonjun, but oh well.”
“…You changed your mind over something so trivial?”
“Don’t call it trivial. I’ll get mad?”
U Haryeon said with a playful smile. Dang Seona stared at her in disbelief. That “I’ll get mad” tacked on like a joke was no joke at all.
“I just realized it.”
U Haryeon passed by Dang Seona.
“How desperately those I’d yielded victories to must have wanted those wins.”
That’s why she made the promise.
Amid the roaring cheers, U Haryeon appeared. She walked slowly to the arena, gazing at the spectator stands. Finding Wi Sungcheon was easy.
Wi Sungcheon sat with Jeong Miju, Seo Baek, and Paeng Yeonhwa. U Haryeon waved to them with a bright smile.
“What a stark contrast.”
“Yeah.”
Jeong Miju murmured, and Wi Sungcheon responded. Beside them, Seo Baek slumped with drooping shoulders.
Seo Baek had advanced to the main tournament but lost in the first round to Hwangbo Seongu. Two days had passed, but he still seemed to carry that defeat.
Next to him, Paeng Yeonhwa sat quietly hugging her knees. She still felt embarrassed about yesterday’s events, but Wi Sungcheon simply thought she was brooding over her loss to Dang Seona.
“It’s making me feel heavy too.”
Jeong Miju frowned. She wasn’t referring to Seo Baek or Paeng Yeonhwa.
Tae Heemyeong.
He stood in the center of the arena, sword already drawn and gripped. The heavy tension radiating from him reached even this distant spectator stand.
“…Please guide me well.”
As U Haryeon stepped into the arena, Tae Heemyeong cupped his fists and bowed his head. U Haryeon nodded awkwardly with a strained smile.
Tae Heemyeong steadied his mind. His restless feelings hadn’t calmed easily, but facing her like this settled them astonishingly into stillness.
Don’t despair.
That’s what the Taeguk Sword Lord had told him when he visited yesterday. He can’t win… That much, Tae Heemyeong knew as well as the Taeguk Sword Lord.
Despite becoming his disciple and receiving his teachings, Tae Heemyeong felt his sword still couldn’t challenge U Haryeon.
‘I knew that long ago.’
Tae Heemyeong admired U Haryeon. Not just because she was beautiful. Her sword was so beautiful and extraordinary that he couldn’t help but yearn for it.
When was it?
When he first became captivated by her, falling for her. It was quite some time ago. Before coming to the Heavenly Academy. Back when he wasn’t called Sword Dragon, and she wasn’t Sword Peak.
He had fallen for U Haryeon dancing her sword dance. She had been so beautiful and free then.
“I won’t despair.”
Tae Heemyeong said quietly. U Haryeon blinked at his words.
“I’ve known for a long time that Senior’s sword surpasses mine.”
Even as he felt intense yearning for her, he had never confessed his feelings to U Haryeon. He couldn’t help the attitude that slipped out unconsciously, but the real reason Tae Heemyeong hadn’t confessed was his acute awareness of his own inadequacies.
But someday.
Yes, he had always imagined that someday—if his sword surpassed hers. Then, with confidence in himself, he could confess.
‘Not today.’
Tae Heemyeong raised his sword, certain of that. The moment the match began, he slowly advanced.
Today’s sword could never surpass U Haryeon. He knew that even now, before their blades had clashed. If so, he needed to gauge how far away U Haryeon’s sword was.
How low his own sword lay.
That’s what he had to confirm. Defeat held no shame. Nor did he intend to despair over this loss.
He was Sword Dragon, disciple of the Taeguk Sword Lord. Even from that position, he had no intention of treating defeat as humiliation.
Their swords clashed. Tae Heemyeong’s was the Mount Wudang sword. The Wudang sword embodied Taiji.
It expressed the origin of all things through the blade—that was Wudang sword theory. Thus, Wudang swordsmanship was vast, profound, and intricate.
Its flow never ceased. The sword art he had mastered was Wuji Taiji Sword. The Taeguk Sword Lord’s sword was also founded on Wuji Taiji Sword.
Through him, the Taeguk Sword Lord had perfected Wuji as Taiji.
Tae Heemyeong knew his sword fell far short of embodying Wuji as Taiji, but that awareness didn’t weigh down his blade.
Sparks flew. The clash of steel echoed distantly. Against Tae Heemyeong’s endlessly flowing sword, U Haryeon’s bloomed beautiful flowers. The mingled light burst forth like full-bloom flowers before fading.
The renowned experts didn’t cry out in admiration. Their eyes gleamed, captivated by this high-level exchange. The swords kept meeting. They intertwined without rashly invading each other’s domains.
‘Ah…’
Wi Sungcheon watched the endless blooming flowers, recalling his moment of defeat to U Haryeon.
The Plum Blossom Uproar he hadn’t seen to the end. No matter how many times he replayed it, that final technique eluded him—yet now it unfolded before his eyes.
Tae Heemyeong was withstanding the Plum Blossom Uproar that Wi Sungcheon couldn’t.
In the end, it was just a matter of speed. Even if U Haryeon had yielded and let Wi Sungcheon advance, he couldn’t have beaten Tae Heemyeong.
Sword Dragon was truly Sword Dragon.
And Sword Peak stood even higher.
The flow shifted. The momentum led by Tae Heemyeong’s Wuji as Taiji was now drawn by U Haryeon’s sword. Her exquisitely beautiful Plum Blossom Swordsmanship pushed his back. Yet Tae Heemyeong smiled brightly.
Joyful.
This moment was pure bliss. Defeat loomed near, but he reveled in U Haryeon, the object of his admiration, engaging him with her full sincerity.
Wi Sungcheon clenched his fist. He strongly projected himself onto Tae Heemyeong. If I were standing there…
How long could I last? Even at my best, could I withstand Senior U Haryeon’s sword to that extent? A chill ran through him.
The throbbing pain in his meridians faded. His deep immersion and focus in the moment revived the sensation of Spirit Ignition he hadn’t grasped.
But Wi Sungcheon wasn’t even aware of it. He was utterly captivated by the brilliant sparks from the clashing swords.
Nor was he alone. Most watching the match intently felt a fierce thirst.
The urge to leap down and join the fray. Such an intense clash of martial intents stirred thirst in any warrior.
An end came to the seemingly endless sword dance. Tae Heemyeong’s sword flew high.
His grip nearly gave out, but he forced strength into his hand. He prepared a technique beyond his current capabilities.
Somehow, it felt possible now.
Taiji Infinite.
Tae Heemyeong’s sword swung in a circle. That simple motion held an inviolable perfection.
The slow swing pressed upon the space. His intense will truly rendered the sword infinite.
Plum Blossoms Fill the Heavens.
U Haryeon’s sword invaded the perfection. Tae Heemyeong’s movement froze. The clashing blade flowed away. His hand gripped the sword, yet he felt it slip to a distant place beyond his reach.
“…Senior U Haryeon.”
Tae Heemyeong called her quietly. He bore not a single wound. His clothes weren’t even torn.
But U Haryeon swung no more.
“Yeah.”
“I admire you, Senior.”
Words he could never say under normal circumstances.
Tae Heemyeong spoke in a flat voice. His mind had settled strangely.
Because he had unleashed every sword he could? Tae Heemyeong himself didn’t know. It was like an impulse, or lingering attachment. He had said it.
“…Yeah, I see.”
U Haryeon gave a troubled smile.
“I appreciate the sentiment, but I can’t accept it.”
“I figured.”
Tae Heemyeong smiled bitterly and nodded.
“But I don’t think I can let go of these feelings.”
He murmured as he turned away.
Chae-aeng!
The sword he still held shattered and fell.
“Embarrassing as it is… I’ve fallen for you all over again.”
Tae Heemyeong stared blankly at the sky.
A belated wave of shame flushed his face bright red.