Chapter 161: The Thing I Wish To Show (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 161: The Thing I Wish To Show (1)
She had once been given a piece of advice: to go with the flow.
Rather than stubbornly adhering to a predetermined path, one should follow wherever the sword leads. Some called this the beginning of enlightenment.
The sword would move ahead of one’s eyes…
And the Qi within it would flow with a serene beauty, like gentle ripples spreading across a still lake.
The principle of nature?
Namgung Bi-ah didn’t trouble herself with such complicated thoughts. She simply allowed her body to be carried by that flow.
Yet, she had always found it strange.
Why could she never execute a sword technique that truly satisfied her? Why did it only feel decent when aided by her Qi?
Every swing left her with a lingering sense that something was missing.
Still, Namgung Bi-ah continued to swing her sword.
She never had the answers, nor did she know how to find them. But now, she felt she might finally understand.
Because it seemed she had found a path.
Ring.
Her sword hummed in resonance, as if affirming she was on the right track.
A flowing line unfolded before her eyes, revealing a way forward.
Should she follow it… or not?
She didn’t hesitate. Hesitation was never in her nature.
She would take the path now and deal with any regrets later. As always, she felt no fear stepping onto an untrodden way.
The tip of her sword gently traced the line of the path, then flowed along it seamlessly.
It was smooth—unnaturally so. Had a sword swing always felt this effortless? The blade cut through the air without the slightest resistance.
Then, with a sharp Zap!, Lightning Qi began to intertwine with the flow.
This wasn’t something Namgung Bi-ah had consciously intended; it happened naturally as she followed the path.
Was this what it meant to become one with the sword? The sensation was strange, yet not unpleasant. It felt as though a restraint had been loosened, leaving her more at ease than ever before.
At the end of the flowing path, Namgung Bi-ah saw something—or someone.
Not her opponent, but a figure standing in the distance.
Who is that…?
She couldn’t see clearly, but the person’s attire suggested they were from the Namgung Clan.
Was it her father? Her grandfather? If not them, perhaps her great-grandfather?
Yet, the presence felt unfamiliar—like a stranger.
Moving along the path, she drew closer. Her progress was so gradual that one would need to concentrate to perceive any movement at all. But with each step, the distance shrank. This gradual advance convinced her that this was not a wrong path.
…A little more.
For some reason, she felt an urge to reach the end faster. She felt she needed to; that this was the right path for her.
But as she pushed forward, she sensed herself beginning to deviate.
A realization dawned on her.
Oh, I can’t rush this.
With that, Namgung Bi-ah slowed her steps, steadying her unsteady movements without a moment’s hesitation.
And as soon as she did…
-Hm.
A voice reached her.
-Not bad.
A man stood far ahead, hands clasped behind his back.
-Come slowly.
-You will fall if you rush without knowing your limit.
-With that in mind, come to where I’m standing.
She still couldn’t make out his face, yet she felt compelled to reach him.
He exuded an air of relaxed pride—a pride that suited him so perfectly it felt natural.
-Then I shall award you a present.
With those final words, spoken in a tone of deep satisfaction…
Namgung Bi-ah finally opened eyes that had been closed for a long time.
* * *
“Sis…? Sis!”
“Oh…! Sis Bi-ah is awake!”
Her vision was blurred, but she could make out two figures—one with black hair, the other with green. As her sight cleared, she saw two girls with worried, cute faces.
“…Oh.”
It had been a dream. Yet it felt so vivid that had someone told her it was real, she might have believed them.
“How are you feeling…?”
“…It hurts.”
A dull ache spread from her head down to her toes.
“Of course it hurts… Is your chest okay?”
“…Chest?”
Namgung Bi-ah looked down at her chest, following Tang Soyeol’s gaze. It was wrapped in a medical bandage, not a compression wrap.
“They said it should heal with rest. The sword didn’t cut too deep, and it shouldn’t leave a scar.”
“…Okay.”
Though only her chest was injured, her entire body throbbed as if suffering from muscle fatigue.
Muscular pain…?
She hadn’t felt anything like it since reaching a certain level of cultivation. Why now?
When she tried to move, Tang Soyeol and Wi Seol-Ah quickly stopped her.
“Stay put.”
“You can’t get up yet!”
“Omph…”
“How can you think of moving when you’re hurt this badly?”
“…But you… got up right after your fight too—”
“…That’s different!”
Tang Soyeol shouted back, having no real rebuttal. She had indeed been reckless after her own match.
But Namgung Bi-ah truly wanted to rise. She needed to recapture the sensation from her dream—from the duel. She felt she couldn’t afford to let it fade.
Oh, the duel…
A heavy realization settled in her heart.
“…I lost.”
She had been so confident, so determined to prove herself, and yet she had been defeated.
Tang Soyeol, understanding the feeling all too well, struggled to find words of comfort. What could she say when she herself was grappling with defeat? Empty praises like “you fought well” felt meaningless.
“Sis…”
“Where is he…? Did he go somewhere…?”
Tang Soyeol found Namgung Bi-ah’s question odd. It wasn’t just “Where is Gu Yangcheon?” but “Did he go somewhere?”—as if she was certain he had been here.
…Her belief in him is almost frightening.
And for a moment, Tang Soyeol felt a pang of envy at the bond between them.
Still, she answered. “…He left a little while ago. He has his own match to attend, after all.”
She felt a little mean stating it so bluntly.
“Oh.”
Namgung Bi-ah had guessed Gu Yangcheon had been here for one simple reason.
…There’s no stench.
Only a faint trace remained, barely noticeable. The lingering warmth told her he hadn’t been gone long.
I’m glad…
A sense of relief washed over her, accompanied by that residual warmth. The horrible stench she had smelled during the fight was gone again.
She didn’t know why it had returned at that moment… but the thought that it might come back made her uneasy.
…I must go to him.
She wanted to see him, to confirm that her anxiety was unfounded.
She tried to move again, but Wi Seol-Ah held her down.
“Sis, we told you not to move!”
“…”
Seeing Namgung Bi-ah’s dissatisfied expression, Tang Soyeol spoke up as if she’d been waiting. “They said you need time before you can move. Your injuries are one thing, but your internal energy is also disrupted…”
“Well…”
“And Young Master Gu told us to stop you from getting up.”
“…”
Only then did Namgung Bi-ah relent and lie back down. It seemed her stubbornness always vanished when Gu Yangcheon was involved.
To Tang Soyeol, this side of her was both endearing and slightly vexing.
“Also… he asked me to pass on a message when you woke up.”
Namgung Bi-ah’s eyes widened with anticipation.
“Sis, your reaction is so different compared to before!”
“What did he say?”
“You don’t listen to me, but you listen to him…”
Tang Soyeol couldn’t help but smile.
Jeez, I really have to remember that Sis is a very unique person.
“He said, ‘It was a good match.’”
Namgung Bi-ah’s hair seemed to sway gently at the words.
“‘Rest well. It’s my turn to show you now.’”
Hearing the full message, the light slowly returned to Namgung Bi-ah’s dimmed eyes.
“That’s what he wanted me to tell you.”
After a moment of wide-eyed shock, Namgung Bi-ah slowly closed her eyes.
“Sis, why are you closing your eyes?”
“…He told me to rest well, didn’t he?”
“…”
Tang Soyeol rubbed her face, wondering how her cool and elegant Sis had turned into this.
Of course, I mean… He is that handsome… but you can’t live with someone just because you like his fac… fa… well, maybe you could.
Huh. On second thought, maybe you could.
“But Soyeol.”
“Yeah?”
“You’re good at imitating him…?”
“Right? I thought it was pretty spot-on.”
“Yeah… it sounded just like him.”
Wi Seol-Ah rubbed her shoulders, chilled by the accuracy of Tang Soyeol’s imitation.
Tang Soyeol reflected.
Was it really that similar?
It wasn’t the voice, but the manner of speaking—that uniquely harsh, seemingly emotionless tone. To be precise, it was a rather infuriating way of talking, yet it held a certain charm.
Though it seems like it’s only us who think that way.
Maybe that was for the best. He already had enough girls around him; three who understood Gu Yangcheon was plenty.
…Though it feels like four.
The thought made Tang Soyeol think of Peng Ah-hee. The fact that they had broken off an engagement meant there had been one to begin with. And Peng Ah-hee didn’t seem to hold any grudge against him.
While it didn’t appear to be romantic…
Tang Soyeol still felt somewhat bothered.
The problem was, she had forced her way into his circle herself, so she couldn’t really complain.
Ugh…
And then another girl came to mind.
Snow Phoenix.
For some reason, Tang Soyeol was bothered by her too. Or rather, she felt a sense of guilt tied to the Tang Clan name when it came to her.
…No way, right?
It was an uneasy thought. Snow Phoenix had no interest in Gu Yangcheon and no reason to have any—it was a pointless worry. That’s what Tang Soyeol told herself.
“Anyway, you should rest a bit more, Sis.”
Namgung Bi-ah didn’t respond; she had already fallen asleep.
She had been so urgent to move, yet a single word from Gu Yangcheon about resting had calmed her completely…
The fact that Tang Soyeol found this situation strangely understandable, despite its oddity, was because she knew she might have done the same.
After watching Namgung Bi-ah for a moment, Tang Soyeol turned to Wi Seol-Ah.
“Is it okay if you don’t go?”
“Huh?”
“Young Master Gu’s match—don’t you want to go watch?”
Setting herself aside, Tang Soyeol thought Wi Seol-Ah at least should go, but Wi Seol-Ah just smiled and shook her head.
Seeing that, Tang Soyeol coughed awkwardly and looked away.
…It’s hard to talk to her for some reason.
Wi Seol-Ah was a servant, but Tang Soyeol always found it difficult to converse with her. Putting aside her status as Gu Yangcheon’s direct attendant, there was just something about her that made things awkward.
Why?
Tang Soyeol couldn’t pinpoint it, but the feeling was definite.
“It’s okay. Young Master said he’ll be back right away.”
Tang Soyeol tilted her head. Had Gu Yangcheon really said that? She couldn’t see Wi Seol-Ah’s face through her long hair, but her voice sounded a bit lower than usual.
As Tang Soyeol tried to peek at her expression…
“I’m hungry, should we go eat?”
Wi Seol-Ah suddenly exclaimed with a bright voice.
“…Uh, sure.”
“What should we eat… What does Sis Soyeol like?”
“Ehh? I’m fine with anyth— Oh, I have some poisonous herbs left from yesterday, so maybe—”
“Then let’s go get real food!”
“…Sure, yeah.”
Does she not like herbs?
But poisonous herbs are tasty…
Tang Soyeol secretly made a disappointed face.
* * *
In the arena where the semifinals were being held…
The buzz from the previous match showed no signs of dying down. The audience was still abuzz with excitement, which was understandable after witnessing such a high-level duel in a youth tournament.
But Moyong Hi-ah wasn’t fond of the attention.
While it might be beneficial in the future… she knew she couldn’t deliver the kind of astounding performance the spectators were now expecting.
He was in a whole different league.
The Alliance Leader’s son, Jang Seonyeon. The strength he displayed was far beyond that of any other young prodigy. It made her wonder how he had been pushed back until the turning point in the match. It didn’t seem like he was holding back, either.
…That lady too.
Namgung Bi-ah, the Lightning Dragon’s sister. Her beauty was breathtaking, and her sword skills were equally mesmerizing. Her sword dance…
Moyong Hi-ah still couldn’t forget it. It was so beautiful that, despite Jang Seonyeon’s victory, it was Namgung Bi-ah who lingered in her thoughts. Especially her movements in the final moments—they were beyond description. When she danced with her sword, Moyong Hi-ah completely forgot about her disheveled state during the fight.
The fact that, among so many, only Namgung Bi-ah had remained vividly visible… was deeply shocking.
The problem was…
I have to follow such a remarkable performance.
People were already bestowing new titles upon Namgung Bi-ah and Jang Seonyeon.
Moyong Hi-ah sighed.
…Since the Lightning Dragon is already eliminated,
What purpose is there for me to climb so high in this tournament?
She had never really wanted to participate. The banquet was one thing, but this optional tournament felt like a waste of energy. The only reason she was here was because of…
…Father.
Her father.
The Sword Phoenix, the Sleeping Dragon, and the Sword Dragon—those who truly stood above the other Dragons and Phoenixes—were absent. As such, the tournament couldn’t afford to have no Dragons or Phoenixes participating.
That was probably the agreement.
Ugh…
She felt her title of Snow Phoenix was utterly meaningless. How far did she have to carry this fake honor?
I feel like I’ll become exhausted.
Or maybe, I already am.
But she couldn’t talk back. She knew how much the clan and her father were risking for her.
Moyong Hi-ah quietly drew her sword.
Her opponent was already on the stage.
Gu Yangcheon.
The boy standing across from her. The match was about to begin, yet he was looking elsewhere.
Where is he looking?
When she followed his gaze, it led to the highest point of the Murim Alliance building—where the Alliance Leader and other dignitaries were gathered.
Why is he looking up there?
She didn’t know much about him, but she had learned one thing:
The boy was hiding his power.
Or was it even correct to say he was hiding it? Perhaps he simply hadn’t encountered an opponent worthy of his full strength. Her instincts told her as much.
Whether it was Jang Seonyeon, hailed as the Meteor Sword…
Or the Sword Dancer, Namgung Bi-ah…
The Lightning Dragon, the Poison Phoenix…
Or even herself…
None seemed to have truly caught his attention.
Did that seem strange to her?
“Where are you looking?” she found herself asking.
“…I just had some miscellaneous thoughts.”
His response wasn’t his usual relaxed, albeit rude, tone. He sounded indifferent, his voice devoid of emotion.
As she studied his eyes, Gu Yangcheon suddenly spoke again.
“I’m sorry.”
An apology. Out of nowhere.
Had he done something to warrant an apology? She searched her memory but found nothing. Sure, she had been annoyed by how he often seemed to ignore her, as if disgusted… but it wasn’t blatant enough for an apology.
“Why are you suddenly apologizing?”
Gu Yangcheon opened his mouth to reply, but…
“Semifinals: Gu Clan’s Gu Yangcheon vs. Moyong Clan’s Moyong Hi-ah.”
The judge’s announcement cut him off, and she missed his answer.
Nevertheless, she quickly understood the reason for his apology.
“Begin.”
Blaze-
“…Woah.”
That was all Moyong Hi-ah could manage.
In an instant, her breath was stolen. An intense heat, utterly out of place in the heart of winter, engulfed the arena. The winter breeze was blocked, making it hard to breathe. Flames danced and spiraled endlessly.
Within seconds… a small sun had formed above the arena.
Amidst the flames, Gu Yangcheon stared back at her with a calm expression.
Seeing this, Moyong Hi-ah spoke in a spiritless tone.
“…Isn’t this a bit too much?”
‘In a different league’ didn’t begin to cover it.
How could the sun itself descend upon a playground meant for stars?
This was beyond excessive; it was sheer, unadulterated violence.