Chapter 84: A Strange Connection (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 84: A Strange Connection (4)
“A cripple for life? Ha!”
The pale-faced youth scoffed at my words, finding them absurd.
However, contrary to his reaction, his expression grew increasingly stiff as he realized he couldn't easily pull his hand away.
If nothing else, I was confident that my current internal power was in no way inferior to masters who had surpassed the Wall.
At that moment, Yeoyangseon stepped forward and shouted.
“Junior Brother! Stop it. How can you be so rude to the Eldest Senior Brother?”
“He was the one who was rude first. To everyone else, this might just be a dagger, but to me, it’s the only keepsake my mother left behind.”
My words left Yeoyangseon speechless.
She knew I cherished it, but hearing the circumstances seemed to make her understand. Still, she didn't stop trying to mediate.
“Sigh. Then you should have just explained that. No matter how much Tao you’ve learned from Master, Senior Brother has been training for over seventy years. It’ll be dangerous if you keep this up. Senior Brother, you stop too! Are you really going to act like this against the youngest junior brother who’s barely reached adulthood?”
At her words, the Sword Immortal frowned and questioned her.
“Youngest junior brother? What on earth are you talking about?”
Cr-crack!
Just then, cracks began to spiderweb across the floor where I and the pale-faced youth stood.
The wooden floor couldn't withstand the pressure as our internal power continued to surge.
The pale-faced youth glared at me and spoke.
“I might want to end this, but it seems Master’s new disciple doesn’t.”
“I told you to let go of the dagger.”
“It would be a joke to let a fellow sect member get away with such insubordination.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the youth thrust a palm toward my chest.
“Senior Brother!”
Yeoyangseon cried out in shock.
However, there was no way I couldn't respond to something happening right in front of me.
I thrust my own palm forward, and our strikes collided.
Boom!
The clash of palm force sent a violent gust of wind howling through the room.
The impact was enough to knock Yeoyangseon back about five paces.
She couldn't hide her astonishment.
“To think he has power equal to Senior Brother’s...”
She must have assumed I would naturally be overwhelmed by this pale-faced youth.
The youth’s expression was also grim.
He seemed inwardly flustered by the fact that my internal power was not lacking compared to his own.
However, I hadn't even brought my power to its full potential yet.
“If you won’t let go, I have no choice.”
Grip!
I used my physical strength to tightly seize the wrist of the hand holding the Lesser Conversation Sword.
I intended to snap it right then and there.
At that moment, the youth raised his voice at me.
“I see now how much effort Master poured into you. Fine. Let’s see who is truly fit to be the successor of the Pure Yang Hall’s laws!”
Whirrrrr!
Suddenly, something strange happened with the youth.
Though I was a step ahead in terms of internal power, a pure energy surged from his body, skyrocketing to the point where it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it an explosion.
‘This is...’
Creeeak!
My feet, planted on the floor, were pushed back as the wooden planks warped.
Even my hand, which had been gripping his wrist, was being forced off by the sheer repulsive force.
If my guess was correct, this should have been impossible.
The corners of the youth’s mouth curled up.
“I suppose you haven't learned this yet. Now, take your arrogant hand off me!”
He unleashed the repulsive force.
In that instant, I closed my left eye, shifted my energy from the Lower Dantian to the Middle Dantian, and activated the True Blood Golden Body.
Sssssss!
My body turned a heated red, and steam billowed out from the violent circulation of my blood.
I could have increased my power even further if I underwent the Blood Demon transformation, but I couldn't take such a risk in what was essentially a Taoist sanctuary.
Tremble!
“You!”
My hand, which had been about to be flung away, came to a dead stop.
The youth’s eyes shook at this phenomenon.
“What the hell are you? How can you manipulate the blood in your body like this...?”
Did he figure that out just from the steam rising?
He wasn't called the Sword Immortal’s disciple for nothing; his insight was extraordinary.
“So you were hiding a trick. Fine! Let’s see you endure this!”
The youth seemed momentarily flustered by the combination of my Innate True Qi—which was stronger than my Lower Dantian’s power—and the True Blood Golden Body, which pushed my external martial arts to the limit. However, he soon pushed his energy even higher.
‘Ugh.’
My internal organs felt like they were boiling from the soaring pressure.
As expected, this was only a temporary fix.
In that case, I had my own trump card.
‘Namcheon!’
—Understood.
At my call, the Namcheon Iron Sword began to slide out of its scabbard of its own accord.
It was at that exact moment.
“ENOUGH!”
At the thunderous shout, which sounded like a Lion’s Roar, both I and the pale-faced youth were sent flying back, clutching our ears.
“Urgh!”
“Ack!”
It was an incredible amount of internal power.
To be able to do this with just a voice... I marveled as I looked toward the source of the shout.
It was none other than the Sword Immortal.
The pressure radiating from the Sword Immortal as he walked toward us with his hands behind his back was more intense than any master I had ever met.
Yet, it wasn't tyrannical or oppressive.
It was warm and pure—it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he had reached the pinnacle of the Orthodox path.
‘I didn't suffer any internal injuries.’
What was even more surprising was that despite being in the middle of an internal strength contest and being blown away by the Lion’s Roar, I hadn't suffered the slightest internal injury.
The youth seemed to be in the same position.
I had fought him in my mindscape before, but the real version of him was on an entirely different level.
—Unhwi!
‘Sodam!’
I heard the voice of the Lesser Conversation Sword.
It seemed the youth had dropped the sword while being blown back by the shout.
I reached out, and the Lesser Conversation Sword, which had fallen to the floor, came flying toward me using the power of the Big Dipper.
Snap!
As I caught the sword, it spoke in a tearful voice.
—Waaaaah! Unhwi! I was so scared I’d be separated from you forever!
It must have been truly terrified.
I have no intention of ever losing you either.
That’s why I came all the way to this mysterious place to get you back.
“Hooh.”
I raised my head at the sound of approaching footsteps and a sigh.
The Sword Immortal was looking at me with an expression of disbelief.
“How can a young man...”
Before he could finish, the pale-faced youth shouted.
“Are you still going to deny it? How can someone who hasn't learned Master’s Tao communicate with and command a sword like that?”
At the youth’s outcry, the Sword Immortal turned his head toward him and spoke.
“That is exactly what I wish to ask...”
“You’re feigning ignorance again. I don't want to hear any more of your sophistry, Master. If you want to erase me that badly, then do it. No, I will leave the sect myself!”
Swish!
With those words, the pale-faced youth stormed out of the room.
The Sword Immortal watched him go, rubbing his forehead with the back of his hand and sighing with an exasperated look.
“His Tao is lacking. His Tao is lacking. Is there truly nothing I can do?”
The Sword Immortal blamed himself.
Yeoyangseon ran to his side and prostrated herself on the floor.
“Master! Please don't expel Senior Brother. He’s only acting like this because his long-held frustrations finally boiled over.”
The Sword Immortal looked down at her pleading form with a complicated gaze.
Then, he turned his palm from face-down to face-up.
As he did, Yeoyangseon’s prostrate body was lifted upright of its own accord.
“You are the one suffering.”
At the Sword Immortal’s gentle voice, Yeoyangseon spoke.
“I’ll go bring that idiot Senior Brother back right now and make him apologize to you. Please, just don't hate him. You know how pure he is, Master...”
Pure, huh?
From what I could see, nothing was as terrifying as pure stubbornness.
Even if he walked the wrong path, he would always believe his own sense of justice was right.
Sighing, the Sword Immortal said to her, “How could I ever hate that child? Go on, go and comfort your senior brother.”
Her face brightened at his words.
Seeing her like that, it was clear how much Yeoyangseon liked her senior brother. Though I couldn't tell if it was as a brother or as a man.
“Junior Brother, you stay here. If Senior Brother sees your face, he’ll just blow up again. Master, please wait just a moment.”
With that, she hurried out of the room.
Only the Sword Immortal and I were left in the room.
This was actually better, as I had wanted to speak with him privately anyway.
I had found the Lesser Conversation Sword, but I was curious about where this place was and why he was still alive.
The Sword Immortal approached me and spoke first.
“Who are you, to have mastered the Seven Stars Profound Gate which I never taught you?”
“The Seven Stars Profound Gate?”
When I asked back, the Sword Immortal gestured toward the back of my right hand.
It seemed the Seven Stars Profound Gate he was referring to was the Big Dipper birthmark on the back of my hand.
Others couldn't see the marks on my hand, but based on his gaze, he was looking directly at them.
I gave him a fist-and-palm salute and spoke.
“Master Sword Immortal. I never dreamed you would be alive like this.”
“What on earth are you talking about? Today is the first time I have ever met you.”
“What?”
I was momentarily speechless.
What did he mean, this was the first time we met?
Then what was that spirit fragment I had communicated with through the spirit treasure he left behind?
—What’s going on? Isn't this old man the Sword Immortal you’ve been talking about until your ears bled?
He is.
But he’s treating me like someone he’s seeing for the very first time.
“Talking until your ears bled?”
The Sword Immortal said, looking at the Lesser Conversation Sword.
—...Uh-oh.
“Ha!”
It shouldn't have been that surprising, but seeing someone other than myself hear the sword’s voice for the first time made me gasp involuntarily.
—He just heard me, didn't he? Unhwi.
“I did, child. Seeing how strong your Sword Heart is, your communion with your companion is truly deep.”
—He really is listening to me! Someone other than Unhwi can hear my voice!
The Sword Immortal chuckled at the sword’s excited voice.
The Namcheon Iron Sword also asked, finding this fascinating.
—Did you say you were the Sword Immortal? Can you hear my voice as well?
“Hahaha, what a sword with a truly resilient spirit.”
—It’s true!
Then, the Sword Immortal looked at the wooden box I was carrying and frowned.
Inside the box were the Blood Demon Sword and the Evil Connection Sword.
I had forgotten that I had blocked their voices because they were saying such strange things.
Even if I couldn't hear them, the Sword Immortal wouldn't have blocked the voices of the swords, so he would be able to hear them.
The Sword Immortal’s expression turned grim.
I wondered why, but then...
“Blood Demon?”
‘!!!’
I turned pale the moment those words left his mouth.
To a Taoist like him, the Blood Cult or the Blood Demon would be considered heterodox or evil.
I had completely overlooked the fact that I couldn't hide anything from the original master of the Voice of the Sword.
“Master Sword Immortal! First, let me explain...”
Suddenly, my body wouldn't move.
An invisible, formless energy pressured me as if my entire body were bound by ropes.
I couldn't even budge when I tried to surge my internal power.
“Ugh!”
I knew he was called the greatest swordsman in the history of the martial world, but this was on the level of a monster.
He was handling me, someone who had surpassed the Wall, like a mere child.
—Unhwi!
—Let Unhwi go!
The Lesser Conversation Sword tried to rush toward the Sword Immortal using the power of the Big Dipper.
However, with a slight downward glance from the Sword Immortal, the sword that was about to fly up fell back to the floor.
Clang!
“Sodam!”
—U-Unhwi. I suddenly can't move.
I looked at the back of my hand; the Big Dipper mark was still glowing.
However, it seemed he had forcibly suppressed that energy.
“Stay still.”
The Sword Immortal raised a finger and gave it a slight wave. The wooden box I was carrying disassembled itself, revealing the Blood Demon Sword and the Evil Connection Sword.
“They are demon swords filled with resentment.”
The Sword Immortal clicked his tongue as he looked at them.
The way a demon sword is created is distinctly different from an ordinary sword.
The Sword Immortal recognized it immediately just by looking.
Snap!
The Evil Connection Sword and the Blood Demon Sword were drawn into the Sword Immortal’s hands.
Holding the swords, the Sword Immortal suddenly closed his eyes.
‘Could it be Heavenly Secret?’
It was likely one of the abilities of the Big Dipper, Heavenly Secret.
That meant he was reading the memories of the swords.
It didn't take long.
Soon, the Sword Immortal opened his eyes and looked at the Blood Demon Sword with a frown.
“How could this be...?”
I didn't know why he was surprised.
The Sword Immortal shifted his gaze from the Blood Demon Sword to me.
“Are you also a descendant of the Baek family?”
A descendant of the Baek family?
He was asking if I was of the Baek clan, which seemed to be asking if I was of the Blood Demon’s lineage.
I hesitated for a moment.
I wondered if I should tell the Sword Immortal the truth, something I had never revealed to anyone.
However, if he could read the memories of swords as freely as this without even needing to commune with them, he could find out the truth whenever he wanted.
Since it would be difficult to deceive him anyway, it was better to tell the truth myself.
“I inherited the blood, but it is from my mother’s side. My father’s side is the Jin family.”
“Mother’s side? Hooh.”
The Sword Immortal clicked his tongue at my words.
“A strange thing indeed. Truly strange. To think someone carrying the blood of the Baek family, even if from the maternal side, would enter this Fuse.”
“What on earth are you talking about?”
“Even so, those who are not permitted should not be able to enter the Fuse. I do not know how you were able to get in.”
His cryptic words were frustrating.
So, I spoke up as well.
“...I’m the one who wants to ask. It’s known that you ascended to immortality over six hundred years ago, so I never expected to find you perfectly fine in a place like this hidden paradise.”
“I ascended to immortality?”
The Sword Immortal looked bewildered.
He had the face of a perfectly healthy person being treated like a dead man.
Tilting his head, the Sword Immortal set the Evil Connection Sword and the Blood Demon Sword on the floor and approached me.
Step.
He held out his palm, and my right arm, which had been frozen, moved upward of its own accord until my hand rested on his palm.
“I will see the truth of how you mastered the Seven Stars Profound Gate.”
“What?”
Grip!
The Sword Immortal gripped my palm firmly.
Then, just as he had with the Blood Demon Sword and the Evil Connection Sword, he closed his eyes.
Was he trying to perform Heavenly Secret—the ability to read memories—on me?
As I was wondering, the Sword Immortal’s eyes suddenly snapped open.
Then, he spoke to me in a shocked voice.
“You... you are not someone who should be here!”
His voice was grave.
I asked him, “What do you mean, I’m not someone who should be here? Are you saying it was a mistake for me to enter this place?”
The Sword Immortal looked at me in disbelief.
“How could this happen...?”
“Please, tell me what’s going on!”
Knowing nothing, I couldn't tell what had happened.
Was it such a big deal that I had entered this hidden, paradise-like place?
Then, the Sword Immortal looked at me and spoke in a meaningful voice.
“This may sound strange to you, but the Sword Immortal you know is my spirit fragment from three hundred and fifty years in the future.”
‘!!!’