Chapter 160: The Thing I Wished To Show You (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 160: The Thing I Wished To Show You (4)
…What…?
The thought surfaced in Namgung Bi-ah’s mind, a single spark of pure bewilderment amidst the shock. Her body had only just stabilized, her posture corrected through sheer force of will. What had just happened?
Drip.
A fresh trickle of warm blood escaped the corner of her mouth. She frowned, a rare crease of frustration appearing on her brow. The overwhelming impact had disrupted her Qi flow, sending the energy within her spiraling out of control.
…I couldn’t see it…
However he had done it, the method of Jang Seonyeon’s attack remained a complete mystery to her. Her first priority was to rein in her rampaging Qi. Analysis could come later.
But then…
…!
Before she could even wipe the blood away, her hand flew to her nose. A horrific stench assaulted her senses, so potent it was physically jarring.
Why…?
It made no sense. Moments ago, the foul odor had been barely perceptible. As was her habit, her eyes darted across the spectator stands, searching for a specific presence.
She found him quickly—alongside Tang Soyeol and Wi Seol-Ah. And he was staring, wide-eyed and visibly shocked, at Jang Seonyeon.
…He’s here… but then why?
He was near. At this distance, the stench should have been muted, almost nonexistent.
But then why…? Why is it so overpowering?
“Where are you looking?”
-!
Her body moved on instinct, a hair’s breadth from a lethal strike.
Slash-!
A sharp, burning sensation flared across her cheek, followed by the spray of her own blood.
The sword…!
She immediately tried to solidify her Qi, to summon the Master of Swords once more…
Ring-!
“Ugh…!”
But Jang Seonyeon was faster. The resonant hum of his sword filled the air, and Namgung Bi-ah, caught in its epicenter, felt agony erupt throughout her body. The half-formed Master of Swords shattered, and the Qi she had been gathering dissipated into nothing.
In that moment of vulnerability, Jang Seonyeon struck.
Slam!
A devastating impact centered on her dantian sent her flying backward.
“Agh…!”
She’d barely managed to channel a last-minute defense, but the force was undeniable.
Spatter!
Stumbling, she forced herself back to her feet. Blood continued to well in her mouth. Putting distance between them, she desperately tried to calm the storm within her meridians.
…It’s strange…
His speed, his power—they were on an entirely different level compared to the beginning of the fight. It was as if he had become a different person entirely. The Jang Seonyeon from before had possessed threatening techniques, but his execution lacked the refined control of a seasoned master, revealing his inexperience. Talented, yes, but not exceptionally so among the prodigies she had faced.
But what about now?
He felt transformed. His martial strength had ascended to a new realm.
“I do feel sorry for you.”
Jang Seonyeon’s voice cut through her thoughts. Seeing her perplexed expression, he elaborated.
“I’m not used to it yet, so I didn’t want to use it if possible.”
Ring…
His sword continued its low, threatening hum. To Namgung Bi-ah, it sounded less like a vibration and more like a beast’s roar. What wasn’t he used to? This new form of attack? Or was it something else entirely?
Jang Seonyeon smiled at her visible confusion. “I never imagined I would use it in this fight, but it happened.”
As he took a step forward, Namgung Bi-ah gritted her teeth and forced the Master of Swords to manifest once again. Jang Seonyeon’s expression shifted to one of surprise.
“…Your body must be in excruciating pain. That is very respectable, Lady Namgung.”
His words sent a chill down her spine, but he wasn’t wrong. Her body was in terrible condition, trembling from the strain. The Master of Swords flickered unsteadily. And the stench… it was making everything worse.
…I feel like I’m going to puke.
A realization dawned on her. The stench wasn’t emanating from Jang Seonyeon. It was the same foul miasma that had plagued her entire life, the one that had dissipated after Gu Yangcheon’s appearance. It was all rushing back to her now, as if the brief respite had never happened.
…Why…
She couldn’t explain the feeling. It made the world feel sick and dark, like she was being dragged back into the hell she had endured for so long. Covering her nose did nothing; the stench was in her mind, a phantom pain of the soul. The agony was excruciating. Why did it hurt so much more now? She had lived with it her entire life, but this was a new level of torment.
…I want to run away.
The urge to flee was overwhelming. She wondered if the pain would vanish if she just ran to him, if she threw herself into his arms. The desperation of the pain was driving her to such thoughts.
But even so…
“Phew…”
Namgung Bi-ah summoned her resolve. She hadn’t made that promise to him just to put on a pathetic display.
-Believe in me.
She hadn’t said those words lightly. She hated the sight of worry in his eyes. Ever since the incident at Mount Hua, a new, unwelcome thought had begun to fester in Namgung Bi-ah’s mind.
I hate my incompetence.
It was a feeling she had never known before. She remembered her utter uselessness back then—broken, helpless, able only to watch his back as he fought. She despised herself for being a source of his concern. His worry was a form of care, and that care was a source of a profound, unfamiliar happiness for her.
Happiness.
It was the first emotion Namgung Bi-ah had ever truly understood. She was happy next to him. She could sleep soundly, breathe easily. She discovered she enjoyed slow walks and simply taking in the scenery. She learned, thanks to him, that when she closed her eyes, she could envision warmth and comfort instead of nightmares.
Namgung Bi-ah decided that this was happiness. And she refused to give it up. She refused to stand by his side as a weak, incompetent burden.
Can I really become a helpful person to him, if I can’t even live without him?
She didn’t think so. He wouldn’t want someone so useless beside him. That was precisely why she couldn’t allow herself to be that person. She had to prove she was capable of standing on her own.
“Hmm…”
Jang Seonyeon grunted in response. Namgung Bi-ah’s sword was pointed steadily at him once more.
“Do you not have any intention of forfeiting?”
He would have preferred she surrender. He didn’t want to push this power further, especially not in a tournament he considered beneath him.
I didn’t even think I would use it against the Lightning Dragon. But I can’t believe there are two people who broke my expectations.
Annoyance prickled at him, as if Peng Woojin’s sarcastic predictions were coming true.
Clench.
His grip tightened on the sword hilt. Within his hardened body, his Qi merged with the newfound energy, creating an explosive, volatile force. He looked at Namgung Bi-ah. Her face was streaked with blood, her hair disheveled, her skin dusted with grime from her falls. Yet, despite her disarray, her eyes were calm and fiercely determined. It reminded him of the Poison Phoenix. He couldn’t understand it.
Why didn’t they despair? Why didn’t they run? Why did they refuse to feel fear before an insurmountable wall?
It’s annoying.
He was sick of opponents who clung to their martial pride, who maintained the facade of a righteous Orthodox Faction that was already rotten to the core.
You still dream without realizing the reality? What will you achieve? How disgusting.
The disgust wasn’t entirely for them, but for himself. He longed to stand above all others, and that required a brutal honesty they seemed to lack. He felt a stab of jealousy. They looked more impressive than he did, the one who had chosen a different path after being crushed by the wall.
Don’t rot away.
He shoved the futile thoughts aside. He was the chosen one. He had to remember that.
Jang Seonyeon advanced.
If she won’t give up, then I’ll just make her.
His new speed was still unfamiliar. Nevertheless, he swung. A barrier of Lightning Qi flared to life in defense, but his sword sliced through it as if it were paper.
Clang-!
The collision of their blades produced a sharp, clean sound, but the resulting explosion of Qi was chaotic and violent. A shockwave radiated outward. Namgung Bi-ah trembled under the impact, but held her ground. Jang Seonyeon pressed his assault without mercy.
Clang! Clang!
Fueled by the strange energy, his movements became faster, more destructive. The resonance of his sword ensnared her, seeking weaknesses.
A little faster.
As he grew more accustomed to the power, his speed increased. The sound of his blade cutting the wind grew rougher, more menacing.
However…
Why. Why won’t it reach her?
Slam-!
He stomped the ground, unleashing a wave of Qi.
Ring!
His sword resonated in tandem.
Clklklk!
His blade, locked with hers, seemed to bare fierce, lightning-charged fangs.
But even so…
Clang-!
Jang Seonyeon’s sword still could not break through Namgung Bi-ah’s defense.
“…How?”
The word escaped his lips unbidden. He couldn’t comprehend what was happening. He surpassed her in both speed and raw power.
There is no way that I’d be pushed back with me using this energy, but then why can’t I break through?
Despite his swift, relentless strikes, Namgung Bi-ah parried every single one.
Ring…
A new sound reached his ears, clear and distinct. It wasn't the artificial resonance of his own blade. He checked his sword, but the sound wasn't coming from him.
Ring…
It was faint, yet precise and pure. There was no mistaking it. This was a true Sword Resonance, emanating from Namgung Bi-ah’s blade.
…Sword Resonance?
This was not a forced technique, but the natural harmony achieved when a swordsman reached a profound state of unity with their weapon.
But why did she wait until now to display it? Did she have something hidden? Isn’t it way too late?
The Namgung Bi-ah before him was a mess—bloodied, nose bleeding, her hand injured from absorbing impacts she couldn’t fully block. Yet, the determination in her eyes burned brighter than ever. In fact, she seemed calmer than before.
And that, Jang Seonyeon could not tolerate.
“Why are you still standing?”
“…”
“Give up. There is nothing good for you to keep on fighting.”
She offered no verbal reply. Instead, she simply raised her sword again.
Ring!
Her sword resonated even more clearly, a definitive declaration that the fight was not over. Enraged by her defiance, Jang Seonyeon clenched his teeth and poured all his energy into his next move.
Ring!
His sword echoed in response, but the quality of the sound was harsh and artificial compared to the pure resonance of Namgung Bi-ah’s.
Why won’t my sword make that sound? I should be far superior. I am the chosen one, but then why?
“…No miscellaneous thoughts.”
A soft voice startled him. It was Namgung Bi-ah, breaking her long silence.
“…Focus.”
He initially thought she was speaking to him, but she was talking to herself, her gaze turned inward.
Ring!
The echo from her sword grew steadily louder.
“…I can do it.”
She spoke as if concentrating on a distant point. It was then that Jang Seonyeon finally understood.
Her eyes were determined, but they weren’t focused on him. She was looking past him, at something else entirely.
Enlightenment.
Yes. Namgung Bi-ah was using their life-and-death struggle as a catalyst for a moment of enlightenment.
“…You dare…” Is she using me to obtain enlightenment? In the middle of a duel?
Sssss!
A light blue haze began to form around Jang Seonyeon’s shoulders. It was beautiful, like ethereal smoke.
“I didn’t expect that I’d have to go this far.”
The Meteor Sect called this Divine Qi—a power bestowed only upon those chosen by heaven. The name was fitting. The blue haze enveloped his sword, its beauty belying the dense, destructive power contained within.
“Do not regret it…” You caused all of this to happen.
Jang Seonyeon raised his sword and charged.
Namgung Bi-ah began to move as well. Her steps were light, her sword flowing naturally with her Lightning Qi. There was no massive surge of power, no active Master of Swords—just her, her blade, and a fearless advance.
Their swords met.
For an instant, light—pure, silent, and overwhelming—filled the arena.
When it faded, only silence remained on the stage.
The clash had been instantaneous, the result decided. The judge, confirming the outcome, raised the victor’s arm.
“…Victory goes to Jang Seonyeon.”
Jang Seonyeon stood triumphant.
Namgung Bi-ah lay unconscious on the ground.
-Woaaahhhh!
The spectators erupted into thunderous cheers, shattering the silence.
But Jang Seonyeon remained motionless, lost in thought. He suddenly felt a presence behind him and turned slowly.
There, he saw a boy with black hair and a red uniform gently lifting the unconscious Namgung Bi-ah. Gu Yangcheon had appeared without warning, catching Jang Seonyeon completely by surprise.
Their eyes met briefly.
Seeing the fierce intensity in Gu Yangcheon’s gaze, Jang Seonyeon found himself unable to speak.
It was Gu Yangcheon who broke the silence, his voice devoid of any emotion.
“What’s with the sad face?”
Jang Seonyeon didn’t understand. Sad face? What expression was he making?
“You seem to know that you did a shitty thing yourself, judging by that fucked up expression on your face right now.”
The words were harsh, delivered with no pretense of respect. Normally, such an insult would provoke an immediate reaction, but Jang Seonyeon’s mouth refused to form a retort.
Gu Yangcheon stared at him for a moment longer, then said nothing more. He turned and carried Namgung Bi-ah down from the arena stage.
As the judge departed as well, Jang Seonyeon was left alone in the center of the cheering crowd. He slowly raised his hands and covered his face.
For some reason he couldn’t explain, it felt like the necessary thing to do.