Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: The Flower of Will
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Monday.
This time, the Taiji Sword Lord didn't come all the way to the dorms himself. Paeng Yeon-hwa thought that was a relief. It was something to be grateful for, but the stares and whispers from those around made her uncomfortable.
"The Hidden Dragon's on the move."
That didn't mean there were no stares or whispers. Students heading to the Medical Hall or Yicheon Mountain for classes with their instructors snuck glances at Wi Seong-cheon and Paeng Yeon-hwa while snickering. But not every student was like that. Some looked at them purely out of curiosity, without any mockery or disdain.
They were wondering just what kind of lessons the Taiji Sword Lord—one of the Ten Heroes—was giving him. Of course, it wasn't just curiosity; jealousy was rife among them too.
"Huh? What'd you say?"
Every time a snicker reached his ears, Wi Seong-cheon whipped his head around and shot back with a forceful voice. Those who had been snickering would stammer in shock and bolt away.
To Paeng Yeon-hwa, it didn't feel entirely satisfying. They couldn't say a word to his face but chattered away like peeling pumpkin seeds behind his back, even after witnessing both his spar with Jin Bae.
"I'm Yeon Jin from the Point Spear Formation."
Of course, not every student was snickering. Some approached with cupped-fist salutes and greetings.
Most were upperclassmen. Their attitudes carried respect, not ridicule. They had more composure than the first-years lumped together with Wi Seong-cheon, and they knew Jin Bae—whom Wi Seong-cheon had defeated—was no pushover.
"I'm Wi Seong-cheon of the Heavenly Flower Sect."
Wi Seong-cheon returned the greeting with a grin. It was the complete opposite of how he treated the snickerers.
"Not pissed off?"
Yicheon Mountain was vast, but the training grounds were limited. The spot the Taiji Sword Lord had chosen was far from the usual areas, so they encountered hardly any students on the way up.
"About what?"
"Those nobodies trash-talking you."
"You saw it yourself—they panic and run when I call them out directly. Who's the humiliated one here, me or them?"
Paeng Yeon-hwa blinked at his retort. Wi Seong-cheon chuckled at her reaction.
"Isn't it progress for them? Deep down, they all know it. That I'm better than they are. And they trash-talk anyway out of jealousy. Who envies someone inferior to them?"
"You're... ridiculously positive."
"No reason to be negative. No matter what they say, I beat a third-year senior, Jin Bae. And the Taiji Sword Lord himself said the moniker 'Hidden Dragon' suits me."
Paeng Yeon-hwa let out a snort of laughter. He wasn't wrong. But it also made her think.
Those who know the truth but refuse to acknowledge it—how malicious and narrow-minded they are. Nothing new about it. Paeng Yeon-hwa was a firsthand victim of such malice.
The Peng Clan's tragedy caused by Ho Hwan. She had done nothing wrong. She was the victim who lost her family overnight and witnessed the gruesome scene with her own eyes.
Yet most people feared Paeng Yeon-hwa because of the horrific blood flowing in her veins.
Such gazes weren't easy to change, even if Paeng Yeon-hwa wanted to. She had never even tried, as Wi Seong-cheon suggested. Swallowing her bitterness, she pointed at the flower in his hand.
"...And what's with the flower?"
She had wanted to ask the Taiji Sword Lord about it...
"Ho ho."
Before Wi Seong-cheon could finish.
The Taiji Sword Lord appeared right before them. Wi Seong-cheon jumped back in surprise, and Paeng Yeon-hwa's ears perked up sharply. Her twitching tail puffed up and stiffened. The Taiji Sword Lord bellowed with laughter at their startled faces.
"I must've given you quite the scare."
"G-Geez, you scared me."
Wi Seong-cheon patted his pounding chest.
"You wait over there for a bit."
The Taiji Sword Lord eyed the flower in Wi Seong-cheon's hand curiously but prioritized Paeng Yeon-hwa first. Wi Seong-cheon went to the spot the Taiji Sword Lord indicated.
A small flower bed lay there. Though he hadn't heard it directly, the Taiji Sword Lord seemed to have guessed what Wi Seong-cheon wanted to ask. Wi Seong-cheon plopped down on the ground and reached for a nearby flower.
*Tap.*
No need to snap it with force. Just touching it broke the stem. Because that's what he wished for. Naturally, the stem Wi Seong-cheon snapped was different from U Ha-yeon's.
While Wi Seong-cheon did this, the Taiji Sword Lord faced Paeng Yeon-hwa. He wasted no words. Seeing was faster and more accurate than hearing.
The Taiji Sword Lord extended his hand. A necklace pierced with Ho Hwan's tooth now dangled from his wrist. Paeng Yeon-hwa didn't panic.
But she couldn't help her eyes trembling or her breath catching.
It was just one tooth of Ho Hwan's, but the curse-like hatred etched into her blood conjured his image.
Brother.
Eight years ago, the last time she'd seen him. Her brother... had been horrific. Covered in blood, holding their father's head, he hadn't transformed into beastkin form but retained human shape—yet his eyes were more feral than ever. A memory she didn't want to recall. Yet one she couldn't forget.
One-Mind Immovable Resolve.
Paeng Yeon-hwa's heart settled into calm. The hatred didn't vanish. But the madness was gone. Fully aware of her hatred, she regulated her breathing.
The Taiji Sword Lord smiled faintly at her.
He'd mastered controlling madness in just a week. Imperfectly, of course. But look at her—eyes quivering, yet gaze unwavering.
"You haven't been slacking."
"...Desperation drives me."
"What makes you so desperate?"
"I don't want to become a monster."
Paeng Yeon-hwa answered in a quiet voice.
"The moment I achieve the vengeance I crave, I want to remain human. To the brother who became a complete monster, I want to say I'm different from you. And..."
Paeng Yeon-hwa paused. Strangely, voicing it felt embarrassing. The Taiji Sword Lord gazed at her kindly, without urging.
"...To those who call me a monster, I want to prove I'm not."
"Do you think yourself a monster?"
"...I'm not sure. The blood in my veins isn't human. If that's what makes one a monster, then I am. But..."
"Blood doesn't matter."
The Taiji Sword Lord shook his head.
"A human with a monster's heart is a monster, and a non-human with a human heart can be human. If you believe you're not a monster and see yourself as human, then you are human."
He glared at the necklace on his wrist as he spoke.
"Appearance doesn't matter either. Even if you take beastkin form, a human heart makes you human. Never forget that. I taught you One-Mind Immovable Resolve so you could master your madness and not abandon your human heart."
"Yes."
"Haha, youth is wonderful. Just one week, and your inner turmoil has lessened greatly. What changed in your heart? Or was it an experience? Who helped open your eyes?"
Paeng Yeon-hwa glanced at the flower bed where Wi Seong-cheon was. The Taiji Sword Lord didn't miss it. He roared with laughter.
"That boy eased your turmoil. What did he say?"
"...Nothing special. Just... seeing him made me feel a bit ridiculous about how I've been."
"That's enough. I don't know how you've lived until now. But the change you felt won't harm you. It'll help you grow. Now, let's try a bit more. Draw your sword."
Her chest tickled at his words. Feeling her face heat up, Paeng Yeon-hwa drew the blade from her waist.
The grip molding to her hand sent tingles across her skin. The single-edged blade slipping from its sheath made her heart race.
"I won't use this abomination. And I'll keep approaching you. Swing that sword to keep me at bay, or approach yourself and practice controlling your hatred."
"Yes."
Paeng Yeon-hwa suppressed her writhing instincts and replied. As her breathing grew slightly ragged, the Taiji Sword Lord added,
"Don't transform into beastkin form. Or... it's fine if you do. But control it all with your own will."
"I'll do my best."
The Taiji Sword Lord beamed at her answer.
Effort. It was a word he loved.
* * *
Sun and clouds drift. The gentle breeze is cool, not hot, carrying the scent of autumn. Wi Seong-cheon still sat by the flower bed, snapping flowers and peering at their stems.
"Took you long enough."
The Taiji Sword Lord approached after lunchtime had passed. Wi Seong-cheon didn't feel hungry. Something else weighed on him more.
"Can't favor just you."
"Isn't picking just the two of us out of all the Heavenly Will Academy students favoritism?"
"You hate it?"
"No. But for two guys who get so much hate, the Taiji Sword Lord's favoritism is a bit burdensome."
"Don't lie."
Wi Seong-cheon chuckled.
"Not entirely a lie. Senior Tae Hui-myeong didn't say a word about it."
"Good, upright kid. He won't envy you for this. He'll respect your skills even more."
"Wouldn't the world be great if everyone were as good and upright as Senior Tae Hui-myeong?"
"No conflicts then. What a boring world. Don't take the envy of the young and deficient so hard. Envy is acknowledgment in the end."
"You read my mind too well."
"What?"
The Taiji Sword Lord tilted his head at Wi Seong-cheon's laugh. Wi Seong-cheon snickered, twirling the flower between his fingers.
"I've only ever been despised by others since forever. Even without doing anything to them, they'd insult me as a bat just for being from the Heavenly Flower Sect. But now? They don't ignore me for it—they envy me. Now they call me Hidden Dragon instead of bat."
Even if there's little respect or admiration in it. Wi Seong-cheon relished the change.
"...Ha ha! Indeed."
The Taiji Sword Lord burst into laughter.
"If you keep proving yourself, their envy will fade. And turn to respect and admiration. When that happens, don't forget righteousness. Stray from the righteous path, and it's no good."
"Of course. The Heavenly Flower Sect is righteous."
"It's not about your sect's color. Even demonic warriors have righteousness. What matters is the heart you hold."
The Taiji Sword Lord plopped down before Wi Seong-cheon. He pointed at the flower in his hand.
"Who snapped it?"
"Sword Peak Senior U Ha-yeon."
"I thought so."
"You knew?"
"Saw the shape of nearby flowers where it was cut. Plum blossoms in full, riotous bloom. They say she's mastered Huashan's true essence... indeed..."
The Taiji Sword Lord muttered, then looked around Wi Seong-cheon's knees. Snapped flowers lay scattered there. He picked one up and asked,
"Want to attain Living Sword?"
"Not sure."
Wi Seong-cheon answered honestly.
"I talked it over with a friend. He said Huashan's sword stems from the Daoist path, so it's fundamentally Living Sword, and since Senior U Ha-yeon was raised in Huashan as a prodigy, her sword becoming Living Sword is natural."
"True. No matter the art's origin, it's the person wielding the sword."
"Probably. But I'm different. I was raised in the Heavenly Flower Sect, trained in its arts. What I learned was never Living Sword."
Wi Seong-cheon muttered as he snapped another flower.
"Honestly, not sure. I know Heavenly Flower arts aren't Living Sword, and I've never felt the need for it. But... it's wondrous. Just snapping one flower, and it can be so different."
"Martial arts are like that."
It was a good day.
The Taiji Sword Lord truly thought so. To think he'd share such talks with twenty-year-olds.
"You're enchanted by that girl U Ha-yeon's sword. You've seen a facet of martial arts you lack and fallen for it. It's like falling in love. A heaven-sent blessing too."
"A blessing?"
"Not everyone feels that. Look at those envious kids—they deny your difference and envy you. But some already acknowledge and respect you."
"...Yes."
"You're the same. Enchanted by U Ha-yeon's different sword, you seek the same. You didn't reject it as different or dismiss it as unnecessary. That's the blessing. Truly loving and yearning for martial arts is a warrior's fortune."
*Tap.*
The Taiji Sword Lord reached out and caressed a flower. It didn't snap... no, it did. The bud fell smoothly, still plump and beautiful.
"What did that girl U Ha-yeon say?"
"To empty the mind."
Wi Seong-cheon stared at the bud and said.
"Empty the mind. But even thinking 'empty it' fills it. Can no-self, no-thought truly empty it? But if so, am I still me? She said it's all about how you think, cultivation and self-satisfaction in the end."
"Heaven's fortune."
The Taiji Sword Lord nodded.
"Huashan's true essence has clearly been passed to her. Within ten years, she'll be Huashan's greatest swordsman in its history. She's called Sword Peak now, but soon 'peak' won't suffice for her sword—it'll need 'phoenix.'"
High praise. The Taiji Sword Lord was that impressed by U Ha-yeon's enlightenment.
"What do you think of her words?"
"Simple yet profound."
Wi Seong-cheon recounted his talk with Bang Jun. The Taiji Sword Lord slapped his knee laughing.
"Your friend's from the Beggars' Sect. Ha ha! Heard it from that old beggar rascal too. Good kid, but not ripe yet."
Composing himself, the Taiji Sword Lord said,
"Your friend isn't wrong about martial arts' purpose and root. But as you think, arts are wielded by people. Living Sword can kill depending on use. Like poison or medicine. Poison can heal, medicine can poison. Remember: nothing's absolute."
He pointed to his chest.
"What matters is your own 'will.' Yes, the mind. Discard stray thoughts, banish delusions. Empty your mind and fill it solely with yourself. As that rascal said. When you've stripped away all else and filled only yourself."
A disciple came to mind.
Heavenly Man Mu Yeon-jun.
That boy was 'such' a being. Discarded thoughts, delusions, emptied the mind. Filled only with self. Or... not even that? The Taiji Sword Lord smiled bitterly.
"Will strengthens into intent. Living and Killing Sword distinctions vanish. Intent can make a sharp blade unable to cut, or a blunt club cleave mountains. Understand? What you must realize isn't your art's purpose. Nor aim for Living Sword. That girl's right. It's all cultivation, your own satisfaction."
Wi Seong-cheon's foggy mind cleared. He looked at the flowers he'd snapped. None satisfied, no matter how many.
Pathetic. My flowers differ from Senior U Ha-yeon's. They must. I'm not her. I don't know Living Sword.
Isn't that enough? What was I seeing, thinking? Living Sword? No, just imitating U Ha-yeon.
Imitating what I can't do, chasing likeness. Failing, unsatisfied.
"Ah."
Wi Seong-cheon laughed and snapped a flower.
Not much different. But... satisfying. Purely by his will.
Forget Living Sword—snapped as his heart desired. And it 'lived' more than others. Because his heart aimed straight.
'Strip away. That's what it meant.'
Stripped the desire to imitate. Filled with self in its place.
"Ha ha!"
The Taiji Sword Lord laughed heartily. Through this talk, Wi Seong-cheon gained a small enlightenment. Enlightenment anyone can gain, but only by sincerely opening and understanding oneself.
"Emptying the mind."
The Taiji Sword Lord clasped his hands before his chest.
"It's unifying mind, body, and qi. Discard all delusions, leave only will. Body, mind, qi connect as one. Then you fully understand and realize yourself."
"How can one leave only will?"
"That's why it's hard. Even eminent Daoists and monks have delusions. Cast them off if you can. If not... swallow them. With stronger intent. Stronger mind."
Thus.
"When you've stripped or swallowed all unnecessary and filled yourself. The mind frees. Freedom means unbound by anything, becoming anything. Intent hardens the body; infused with killing intent, it kills with mere presence."
The Taiji Sword Lord's words evoked the mind sword that had cut him. Inner power in lower dantian gains form by opening middle, and with upper open, sword manifests by will alone.
"Emptying the mind and unifying mind-body-qi—that opens the upper dantian?"
"Yes, but not limited to it."
"Yes?"
"Beyond."
The Taiji Sword Lord half-closed his eyes.
"Opening the Heavenly Gate."
Beyond the upper dantian.
"Open the upper, and divinity enters the human body. Surpass that, open the Heavenly Gate..."
In a calm, passionless voice, the Taiji Sword Lord said,
"...and you complete as a being surpassing gods."