Chapter 408: What Are You Doing (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 408: What Are You Doing (1)
Guidance through sparring.
It was a convenient excuse, one she used often.
For beginners, receiving instruction from a renowned master was an honor. When a swordswoman of the White Ripple Sword's caliber offered to teach, people would flock from all corners of the land to learn.
But the current situation felt… odd.
Moyong Biyeon, the White Ripple Sword, observed the three girls before her with an amused glint in her eyes. She was curious how they would react when she unleashed her Combat Qi.
Would they tremble in fear? Gasp in shock? She expected something along those lines.
Woah.
But reality defied her expectations. The girls showed neither fear nor shock. Instead—
Shing-
The moment her Combat Qi washed over them, they fell into perfect combat stances. The two sword-wielding girls were a particular sight to behold.
They aren't shaken at all.
The girl from the Tang Clan was impressive for her age, but the other two were on a completely different level. Calling them 'Young Prodigies' now felt almost insulting.
They had already broken through their bottlenecks and reached the Peak Realm. How could they still be considered mere 'prodigies'?
I heard this generation is overflowing with talent. It seems the rumors are true.
Witnessing these two was all the confirmation she needed.
Gu Yangcheon was an exception—a freak of nature so monstrous it was unfair to use him as a benchmark for this era. It was more fitting to set him aside and focus on the girls standing before her.
A spark of genuine interest ignited in Moyong Biyeon's eyes.
This trip to Sichuan, led by the Poison King, had turned out to be far more extraordinary—and amusing—than she'd anticipated.
Many young talents from various clans had gathered, but each one here was uniquely remarkable. The girls, Gu Yangcheon, the others… they all shone with a brilliant light.
The young Taoist from the Wudang Sect, known as the Sleeping Dragon, was already knocking on the door of the Peak Realm's final stage. The large-framed young man from the Pe Clan was still a First-Class martial artist, but his potential was undeniable.
Surprisingly, the one lagging behind was her own niece.
They're all strangely gifted.
The thought made Moyong Biyeon even more curious. The only one who seemed out of place was the gentle boy from the Cheol Clan, but he was an exception, hardly a martial artist at all.
Had these children been born in her generation, they might have become the greatest prodigies of the age—
Oh… perhaps not.
That might have been a stretch.
Back then, there had been 'that person' sitting firmly at the very top. And beneath him swarmed a multitude of others, each talented enough to be called a genius in their own right.
Is it a coincidence?
Was it mere chance that all these children were gathered here? Or was there some central force that had drawn them together? If it was the latter, then there was only one possible answer.
It must be that child.
The face of a certain young man surfaced in Moyong Biyeon's mind. If that was the case, it made perfect sense.
Just like in her generation, people are naturally drawn to the brightest light. And here, among them, shone the brightest of all.
It surely wasn't just a coincidence.
To Moyong Biyeon, who had lived through similar times, the situation was obvious. Even so, she couldn't help but let out a soft, disbelieving laugh.
Isn't this a bit excessive?
Just as Moyong Biyeon exhaled softly—
Swish-!
A sword tip grazed past her cheek. A tingling sensation, charged with Lightning Qi, lingered in the air. Moyong Biyeon instinctively moved to create distance.
She tried to step back, but an attack came flanking her from the side. Two daggers shot towards her with startling speed.
With a mere glance, Moyong Biyeon calculated their trajectory and tilted her body gracefully.
Swoosh-!
A gust of wind erupted with her movement, subtly altering the daggers' path.
Chk-!
The daggers whistled past her and embedded themselves in a nearby tree.
Then, shockingly, the tree began to rot from the points of impact. The daggers were imbued with Poison Art.
Oh?
Moyong Biyeon's eyes flicked to the one who had thrown them.
It was no surprise that a member of the Tang Clan would use Poison Art, but she hadn't expected the girl to actually employ it against her.
When Moyong Biyeon had suggested a spar, she had hoped for a real fight. Of course, she'd planned to hold back and simply gauge their level.
But this…
These children were exceeding her expectations.
Zap-!
"...!"
They gave her no time to ponder. No sooner had the daggers struck the tree than bolts of Lightning Qi came sizzling towards her.
The sight genuinely impressed Moyong Biyeon.
This is impressive.
Dozens of lightning bolts shot forth, each moving with a will of its own, tracing different paths through the air. This meant the user was controlling every single one individually.
Such mastery was more than enough to label her a genius. Yet, she was simultaneously wielding her sword art while manipulating the lightning.
She can move like that while controlling so many bolts?
Moyong Biyeon was reminded of the Lord of the Namgung Clan. After all, the girl commanding this lightning carried Namgung blood.
How unfitting for a bastard like him to sire such a monster.
A tingling sensation crawled up Moyong Biyeon's back. Her feet grew heavy, her Qi sluggish. Judging by the pressure bearing down on her shoulders, this was undoubtedly her clan's special ability.
Master of Swords.
The martial art of that damned man. As Moyong Biyeon dodged the lightning bolts, she scanned her surroundings. All she could see was a storm of lightning ahead.
Then where is it?
She sharpened her senses to a razor's edge.
Zap-!
Just as she suspected, she felt presences closing in rapidly from both her left and right. Then, she saw them—glimmers of golden and white light speeding towards her.
Their swords held no hesitation. Worse, judging by the angles, both blades were aimed squarely at her neck.
Wow.
In that moment, Moyong Biyeon realized her mistake.
Thinking of them as mere 'Young Prodigies' had been a grave error. With that realization, she adjusted her grip on her sword and swung.
Then—
Swoooosh-!
Light blue sword waves, the signature of the Moyong Clan, exploded outwards in all directions.
"...!"
"Ugh…!"
The explosive force hurled Namgung Bi-ah and Wi Seol-Ah backwards. The following barrage of Lightning Qi was swept away by Moyong Biyeon's sword. The two girls landed near Tang Soyeol, their expressions a mix of shock and awe as they stared at their opponent.
The tornado-like wave was the aftermath of Moyong Biyeon's Sword Force. It was fundamentally different from the Qi of a Peak Realm martial artist—infinitely heavier and denser.
From the calm center of the storm, an awkward voice addressed the three girls.
"Sorry, girls. It seems your big sister here made a mistake."
A faint smile played on Moyong Biyeon's lips as her Qi flowed seamlessly into her blade.
"I thought I could take it easy on you, but I was clearly wrong."
She had intended to treat them as juniors, but they were martial artists first and juniors second. They had already far surpassed the level where she could afford to play around.
Moyong Biyeon regarded them with a complex expression.
Is this how she felt back then?
She wondered if the previous Sword Queen had felt the same when she and her friend, Soi, had challenged her all those years ago.
There was one crucial difference, however: the previous Sword Queen had taken the two girls seriously as martial artists from the start, while Moyong Biyeon had not.
Foolish.
She inwardly reproached herself.
Yet, at the same time, she felt a pang of relief that Soi was the current Sword Queen. She would never have made such a mistake. Moyong Biyeon had never coveted the title, but she was glad nonetheless.
No matter how you looked at it, she was utterly unsuited for the role of Sword Queen.
"Whew."
Moyong Biyeon steadied her breathing and allowed her Qi to flow calmly.
She had recognized her error; now she simply had to correct it. Her eyes, now sharp and focused, locked onto the three tense girls before her.
"Let's start over."
The girls seemed to understand her meaning perfectly. Their auras shifted instantly. They had clearly sensed the change in Moyong Biyeon's demeanor. Seeing this, Moyong Biyeon felt an internal smile blossom. She was… being entertained.
Uh-oh, this isn't good.
She had only intended to help her niece and check out the other girls chasing after Gu Yangcheon. Yet here she was, finding genuine enjoyment in the situation.
She suddenly recalled her little brother's admonition to 'act her age.'
Sorry.
She offered a silent apology to her brother. It seemed true maturity was beyond her. As the raging Qi settled into an eerie calm, a moment of silence descended. Then, Moyong Biyeon moved her feet.
Her figure vanished in an instant. In response, Namgung Bi-ah's eyes widened as she sharpened her senses to the extreme. Wi Seol-Ah also raised her sword high, her gaze piercing as she scanned her surroundings.
Flash-!
Moyong Biyeon materialized in the narrow gap between the two girls.
In that moment, a storm far more violent than the first one began to rage within the forest.
* * *
Dense Combat Qi saturated the air, sending a chill down the spines of the martial artists gathered nearby.
Slam-! Slam! Slam-!
Monstrous impacts echoed repeatedly through the forest, as if demons had descended upon the land.
One by one, people were drawn to the source of the sound. Everyone on this trip to Sichuan was a martial artist; it was impossible for them to ignore such fierce and potent Qi. A crowd gradually formed.
Upon arriving, they quickly realized the sounds weren't from demons. A martial artist from the Pe Clan whispered as he watched the center of the commotion, his voice full of admiration.
"Woah… Impressive, huh? How are they able to do that?"
"The three of them are coordinating perfectly, even though their martial arts styles are completely different."
The two swordswomen worked in tandem, engaging their opponent at close range, while the third girl hurled poisoned daggers at every opening she spotted.
Despite their relentless swordplay, they never got in each other's way. Such seamless coordination was usually seen only among swordsmen who had trained together for years. It was astonishing to witness such synergy from these Young Prodigies.
Hearing the man's admiration, his junior asked with a puzzled look, "Is it really that impressive?"
"Sigh. You idiot, can't you tell just by watching?"
The junior's expression soured at being called an idiot, but his senior's frustration was understandable. Each girl used a different martial art and a different type of Qi. Due to their inherently combative nature, different Qi types usually clash and interfere with each other.
This isn't a major issue when fighting an opponent, but it's a completely different story when trying to cooperate. The Qi of multiple martial artists will typically conflict, tangling their movements and disrupting their coordination.
"Yet, these kids are moving as one."
Even with similar styles, achieving such fluid, non-interfering coordination is incredibly difficult.
Finally understanding, the junior nodded. However, one thing still bothered him. "It's impressive, sure… but none of their attacks are landing."
For their age, their skill level was remarkable, and their attacks flowed together as smoothly as water. But their opponent was simply overwhelming. Not a single attack had found its mark; instead, the girls were consistently being pushed back.
"Nothing can be done about that… Their opponent is the White Ripple Sword, after all."
'Unlucky with their opponent' was the best way to describe the situation.
The man's gaze settled on the lone woman who moved with effortless grace, casually deflecting the combined assaults of the three girls.
The White Ripple Sword. A candidate for the title of Sword Queen.
That description said it all. Even with all these martial artists present, only a handful could hope to match her. She had been inactive for decades, but those who had witnessed her in her prime could never forget her prowess.
"I'm a little jealous."
"Huh?"
Crossing swords with the White Ripple Sword was akin to receiving enlightenment itself. That was why the man felt a twinge of envy towards those Young Prodigies.
There was just one problem.
This is a bit fierce for a sparring session.
It definitely wasn't a life-or-death battle—no killing intent could be felt—but it was still excessive. He wondered if someone should stop them.
As the man watched nervously, his junior spoke in a fascinated tone. "The Poison Phoenix is holding her own, too."
"Hmm?"
"The rumors made her seem unworthy of the title, but that doesn't appear to be the case."
"Hmm…"
The man shifted his gaze to the girl launching daggers from the rear. It was true.
The girl from the Tang Clan, rumored to be lagging behind the other Dragons and Phoenixes, was unexpectedly performing well amidst the storm of violent Qi. The fact that her daggers flew straight and true through the chaotic Qi was proof of her skill. It was also noticeable how she expertly attempted to restrict the White Ripple Sword's footwork from a distance whenever an opportunity arose.
"You're right. She's definitely more talented than the rumors suggest."
"I thank you for your kind words."
"It's nothing to thank me for, I'm just complimenting the Poison Pho-… Eek!"
The man spun around mid-sentence, sensing something amiss. The voice that had just responded was not his junior's. He was right. His junior was standing there, face pale as a ghost. The senior gulped nervously when he saw who had spoken.
"L-Lord of the Tang Clan…!"
The man who had appeared silently beside them was none other than the clan leader himself.
The Poison King.
Cold sweat trickled down the man's face. Had he said anything insulting about the Lord's daughter? His heart hammered in his chest. He may not have noticed the Lord's presence, but if the Poison King had heard someone speaking ill of the Poison Phoenix, anger would be justified.
"P-Please forgive me…!"
The man quickly bowed his head and apologized. Thankfully, the Poison King merely waved a hand, indicating it was fine. Instead, he offered a light smile.
"Thank you for acknowledging my daughter's hard work."
After hearing this, the man and his junior quickly bowed again and made a hasty retreat. The Poison King turned back to watch his daughter, letting out a quiet sigh.
…What is this?
Even the Poison King found the intensity of the Combat Qi a bit much, and his daughter was right in the middle of that storm. He had rushed over as soon as he'd heard the commotion, fully intending to stop the fight immediately.
…This isn't good.
But upon seeing his daughter fighting with such determination, he hesitated.
It was the first time he had seen her exert herself so fiercely. The atmosphere was dangerously intense, but a spar against the White Ripple Sword was a rare chance for enlightenment. He didn't mind seeing his daughter wear the face of a true martial artist.
And so, he decided to watch for just a little longer.
Not for too long, though.
No matter how he looked at it, there were multiple problems with this fight. Aside from his paternal concern, the situation was volatile. The heat emanating from the White Ripple Sword was particularly dangerous. The Poison King massaged his temples, a headache forming.
…White Ripple Sword.
She had been known for disappearing randomly since long ago. But setting that aside, why was she taking this so seriously? If someone of her strength got carried away, problems were inevitable.
This could be dangerous.
The Poison King resolved to intervene if things didn't cool down. He believed only he and the Lord of the Pe Clan were capable of throwing themselves into such a fierce battle to stop it. You would need at least a Fusion Realm martial artist to intervene safely, and among the crowd, only the two of them fit that bill.
The other martial artists likely realized this as well, which was why they watched tensely from the sidelines.
The Combat Qi grew denser as the fight dragged on. It should have ended long ago, but it continued only because the White Ripple Sword was still trying to teach the girls a lesson. It meant she could have ended it in an instant if she were serious about killing them.
As the Poison King watched with growing unease, something happened that made his eyes widen in alarm.
A massive amount of power began converging onto the White Ripple Sword's blade as she parried the attacks.
That's…!
That technique was dangerous. The White Ripple Sword was about to cross a line, as if drunk on her own Combat Qi.
The Poison King immediately gathered his Qi, preparing to charge in and stop the fight. It was about to become extremely dangerous.
He clenched his teeth, ready to leap, but someone moved before he could.
Blaze-!
Flames erupted out of nowhere.
"Huh?"
"This is…"
Everyone watching, including the Poison King, reacted with surprise. A young man had suddenly appeared in the center of the violent battle, amidst the flashing sword waves.
"...!"
The girls, startled by his sudden appearance, tried to redirect their swords, but it was too late. As blades from multiple directions were about to slice into the intruder—
Tsk-
A sound of someone clicking their tongue echoed.
Swoooosh-!
"What…!"
"Ugh!"
"Agh!"
"Eek…!"
In the next instant, the three girls were sent flying high into the air before tumbling to the ground. The watching crowd stood dumbfounded, struggling to process what had just happened.
The violent storm of moments ago had vanished, replaced by an eerie silence. In the center of that silence stood the young man, pinching the bridge of his nose with his fingers.
"Sigh."
He let out a deep, weary sigh and spoke to the girls, who were only just managing to pick themselves up.
"...What are you guys doing so early in the morning? I'm already tired, you know?"
His voice was thick with profound annoyance.