Chapter 295: I’m Not Curious
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 295: I’m Not Curious
CRAAASH-!
Bolts of lightning rained down from every direction.
The ground was scorched black as electricity swept across it.
Were they falling from the sky?
No. This was Qi, molded into the form of lightning.
The power was so dense it was visible to the naked eye. In the blink of an eye, countless strands of Qi coalesced into crackling arcs and surged forward.
What’s going on…?
Jang Seonyeon took a step back.
Shing-
His sword slid from its sheath.
Woong-
Sword Resonance immediately echoed out.
Having broken through his bottleneck, Jang Seonyeon’s Clan Art had grown significantly more powerful. He swung his blade through the oncoming lightning.
WOONG-!
His Sword Resonance rippled through the air with immense force. The sword wave managed to disperse a few of the lightning strands.
CRAAACK!
“Ugh…!”
But he couldn’t eliminate them all, and his situation only worsened. He was forced to rely on his movement technique to evade the rest.
As he sliced through another bolt, a thought flashed through Jang Seonyeon’s mind.
What happened?
The lightning Qi continued to surge relentlessly, giving him no chance to lower his guard.
How did she change so much?
Something was fundamentally wrong. The girl controlling the lightning before him was a world apart from the one he had seen at the Dragons and Phoenixes Tournament. She was in an entirely different league.
Even back then, her swordsmanship had been impressive. Despite her use of Combat Qi and her fierce, cold swordplay, her movements flowed with the grace of a dancer. Her sword-dance-like style had earned her the title of Sword Dancer. Some had even claimed she would have taken the Sword Phoenix position if Gu Huibi hadn’t existed.
Jang Seonyeon had dismissed such talk as nonsense. But could he still say that now?
How was she able to change this much?
The Sword Dancer, once at the peak of the First-rate realm, had now surpassed her bottleneck, just as he had. That much was understandable. Their levels had been similar then, and he too had overcome his wall. But even if their starting points were comparable, their growth couldn’t be identical. That was the current reality for Namgung Bi-ah and Jang Seonyeon.
Impossible…!
For every strand of lightning he cut down, two more took its place. Jang Seonyeon moved and swung his sword without rest, yet Namgung Bi-ah hadn’t moved an inch from her original spot. She stood with an air of utter tranquility.
Controlling such powerful lightning required extreme Qi control, yet all Jang Seonyeon could see were the slight movements of her hands and the occasional shift of her gaze. It was as if she was arrogantly conveying that this was all the effort he was worth.
How dare you…!
CRACK.
She had lost to him in the tournament. His next goals were the Sleeping Dragon, the Sword Dragon, and then the Sword Phoenix. And ultimately… the True Dragon. He had believed only that bastard who looked down on him remained as a true rival. He hadn’t expected the Sword Dancer to be a concern.
Her condescending gaze irked him. He wanted to crush her and prove his superiority.
That girl is also connected to that bastard. Why does everyone around him manage to irritate me? I can’t tolerate this!
Jang Seonyeon couldn’t stand being taunted by a girl he had already defeated.
WOONG-!
He poured more Qi into his sword, amplifying his Sword Resonance. He focused intently on his movements, deftly dodging the relentless lightning strikes.
“…”
Noticing this, Namgung Bi-ah tilted her head slightly.
Slip-
Her fingertips traced a subtle pattern in the air.
ZAAAAP-!
“…!”
The lightning bolts split apart, multiplying in an instant as they charged toward Jang Seonyeon. She had executed such precise Qi control in a mere moment. Her mastery was unbelievable.
The multiplied lightning strands separated again, multiplying even further. Jang Seonyeon, already airborne, had no way to change his trajectory. He halted his Sword Resonance and focused his Qi to form a protective barrier. He deflected some bolts with his sword and blocked the rest with the barrier.
CRAAACK!
“…Ugh…!”
The moment her lightning struck his barrier, a tremendous impact shook him to his core. The barrier trembled violently. Each strand of her Qi carried immense, crushing force. The onslaught continued relentlessly, all aimed squarely at him.
CRAAASH-!
With an explosive roar and violent tremors, the ground erupted, shrouding the area in a cloud of dust and debris. As dozens of lightning bolts hammered the earth, the residual Lightning Qi spread out, vibrating the very ground.
As the dust began to settle, leaving an eerie silence in its wake…
Woong…
A faint Sword Resonance echoed.
SWOOSH!
Simultaneously, a wave of Qi swept out, clearing the dust away and revealing the scarred landscape. The ground was littered with deep, blackened burn marks, a testament to the power of the attack.
“…Phew…”
In the center of the scorched earth, Jang Seonyeon exhaled heavily, his body bearing light scratches.
I managed to block it.
Despite the devastation around him, the spot where he stood was untouched. Even with a hastily erected barrier, he had somehow weathered the storm.
A fierce light ignited in Jang Seonyeon’s eyes as he gathered his Qi.
She must have exhausted her Qi with an attack of that magnitude.
He was convinced that even the Sword Dancer would be drained after such a massive expenditure. Since he had blocked it all, it was now his turn to attack. At least, that’s what he believed.
Step.
But then, he heard the light sound of a footfall.
Swoosh-!
A heavy, oppressive pressure descended from above, freezing him in place for a moment.
“…What?”
He snapped his head around, searching for the Sword Dancer, but she was no longer in her original position. Had she fled? He sharpened his senses, casting them out like a spider’s web.
He located her almost immediately.
Behind him.
The Sword Dancer was standing right behind him.
“…!”
Shock coursed through him, and Jang Seonyeon tried to swing his sword.
CGGKKKK-!
“Ugh!”
But as he prepared to strike, his body stiffened like stone, crushed by an immense pressure that squeezed the very air from his lungs.
…This is…!
It was a sensation he had felt before. He had experienced it from Namgung Bi-ah during the tournament. The martial art known as the Secret Art of the Namgung Clan.
Master of Swords…
The power of Qi pressure, shaped into a martial technique. It was how they asserted their dominance, pressing down on their surroundings with their Combat Qi. This was the true Master of Swords, something he hadn’t even experienced against the Lightning Dragon.
THUD.
His knees buckled, hitting the ground hard. He couldn’t endure the weight.
“Ughhh…”
Cold sweat drenched his back. His Qi struggled to flow under the suffocating pressure. The Master of Swords she had demonstrated back then was on a completely different level compared to now. Back then, he had merely found it difficult to move.
“Huff… Huff…”
Now, he couldn’t even circulate his Qi.
The most alarming thing was…
Even after using that much Lightning Qi, she still has this much left?
Only a year or two had passed. How could she have changed so drastically in such a short time? It felt as if the Sword Dancer possessed a bottomless well of Qi.
Manifesting Lightning Qi into physical form was incredibly taxing, similar to flame Qi. Even for a Peak Realm martial artist, maintaining such an assault for long shouldn’t have been easy. This meant her control over Qi expenditure was extreme. Ultimately, it meant they were simply not in the same league.
This is impossible…!
She hadn’t even drawn her sword.
I can’t even beat the girl standing next to the True Dragon?
This shouldn’t be happening.
“Huff… Huff…”
Veins bulged on his neck as he strained against the pressure. Despite his body screaming in protest, Jang Seonyeon poured all his effort into moving. He couldn’t accept being forced to his knees like this.
Then, a pale hand reached toward the struggling Jang Seonyeon.
Tap-!
“…!”
It deftly removed the band he was carrying. At the same time, the pressure crushing his body vanished instantly.
“Ha…!”
Only after her Master of Swords dissipated could Jang Seonyeon finally breathe easily. But the relief was short-lived; he remained wary of the Sword Dancer, unsure of her next move.
When he looked up, he saw her gazing down at him, her expression perfectly calm.
“…Sword Dancer…”
Jang Seonyeon called out to Namgung Bi-ah, but she merely glanced at him before turning to leave. It was a clear dismissal, as if the fight was already over.
“…Where do you think you’re going…!”
Jang Seonyeon shouted, unable to restrain his fury.
Namgung Bi-ah stopped and turned back to face him.
“We… We haven’t even crossed swords yet.”
Deep down, Jang Seonyeon knew. He realized she was far stronger than he had anticipated. He knew his chances of winning, even in a direct sword clash, were slim. But his pride wouldn’t allow her to walk away. Jang Seonyeon had to be the victor. Now, and always.
“I still haven’t shown you what I’m truly capable o- “
“I’m not curious.”
Namgung Bi-ah’s words cut him off, leaving Jang Seonyeon speechless. Her voice was sharp and cold, utterly devoid of emotion.
“No matter what kind of power you possess… I have no interest in your sword.”
She had only accepted the duel as a formality. Namgung Bi-ah felt no curiosity toward the exhausted man before her.
“Your sword… it’s not interesting.”
Even ignoring the unpleasant aura and the look in his eyes she disliked, his sword itself held no intrigue. Not even a hint.
“I remember who you are now.”
Namgung Bi-ah had recalled him the moment he drew his sword. She couldn’t remember his name, but she remembered their fight from the tournament.
“However, I will forget once more.”
That was all.
“I’m not curious about a sword that has deteriorated since then.”
“…What did you just say?”
Jang Seonyeon’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Deteriorated? That was impossible. He had reached the Peak Realm after breaking through his bottleneck. His martial arts were far superior to before. What nonsense was she spouting?
“Are you trying to mock me…?”
To Jang Seonyeon, it could only be mockery. It was a deep insult, a direct blow to his pride. It felt especially egregious coming from someone he had never considered a true threat. How dare she speak to him like that?
Despite his question, Namgung Bi-ah began to walk away without another word. She seemed utterly indifferent to her victory, concerned only with the band she had taken.
As he watched her leave, a dark thought crossed Jang Seonyeon’s mind.
Divine Qi… Should I use it?
The Divine Qi slumbering deep within his body. He had been warned not to use it recklessly until it fully integrated with his body, and he had heeded that warning, using only trace amounts.
But what about now?
If I use it now, I could put that bitch in her place.
He could prove he wasn’t someone to be looked down upon. He should be the one looking down on her.
…
He wrestled with the thought, biting his lip until it bled, his eyes turning red with fury. His shoulders shook violently from the strain of holding himself back.
Yet, somehow, Jang Seonyeon managed to restrain the impulse. He let out a rough exhale as Namgung Bi-ah disappeared into the distance.
I have to hold back.
He couldn’t afford to ruin everything in a place like this. He would save this humiliation, this anger, for later. He would repay it all in full.
Jang Seonyeon forced a smile onto his face. It felt like he had to start pretending now if he ever wanted to smile naturally again.
…Sword Dancer.
He hated her now as much as he hated the True Dragon. No, perhaps even more.
I must find it quickly.
The thing the descendant of Zhuge the Great King had told him about. Zhuge Jinseon. He had been told the man was here. Was he in the first group, like Zhuge Jinseon, or the second? He had been given a description. Jang Seonyeon refused to believe such a figure could have failed the entrance exam. He was certain Zhuge Jinseon possessed great power and was merely hiding his identity.
After steadying his breathing and calming his turbulent emotions, Jang Seonyeon stood up.
Wait for me.
The humiliation, the anger, the mockery I felt today. I will remember it all. I will make you kneel and return it a hundredfold one day…
Jang Seonyeon wiped the blood from his lip and moved his exhausted body. He needed to find two more bands before it was too late.
From a distance, someone watched as Jang Seonyeon left the area after Namgung Bi-ah took his band.
“…”
Only after confirming he had gone in a different direction did the observer close her eyes and sheathe the sword in her hand.
-How come you didn’t interfere?
Hearing the voice in her head, Wi Seol-Ah opened her eyes and whispered quietly.
“Sis would’ve been angry if I interfered.”
Namgung Bi-ah would have been furious if she had intervened in their fight. Because of that, Wi Seol-Ah had held back. As expected, Namgung Bi-ah had defeated him with ease. It hadn’t even been close.
…She’s strong.
As always, Namgung Bi-ah was powerful. That had been true in the past and remained true now. Her firm belief in herself and her path was unshakable; her martial arts were a reflection of that. Of course, Wi Seol-Ah would have interfered if Jang Seonyeon had tried some underhanded trick, even if it meant incurring Bi-ah’s anger.
As Wi Seol-Ah sat in the shade, watching the sunlight filter through the leaves, she asked something she had been curious about.
Sis… do you not like Bi-ah sis?
As always, her mind trembled slightly at the thought of Namgung Bi-ah. She knew this tremor came from the other existence residing within her. But she couldn’t tell if it was hatred or something else.
-…
-Of course not… I don’t hate her.
The answer was unexpected. Wi Seol-Ah had assumed it was hatred.
Then what is it?
-Sorrow.
Wi Seol-Ah’s eyes widened. This, too, was unexpected. She occasionally dreamed fragments of the voice’s past, but the full picture remained elusive. She didn’t know if these were glimpses of her own future or something else entirely. She only knew they were the memories of the voice in her mind.
But sorrow?
…You feel sorry for Bi-ah sis?
-…
Why? Wi Seol-Ah was deeply curious, but the voice fell silent. Instead, it seemed to retreat into contemplation, perhaps thinking of a day when it had encountered not the present Namgung Bi-ah, but the Demonic Sword of the past.