Chapter 104: Sword Saint-1
Chapter 104: Sword Saint-1
The affairs of the Na household were all successfully resolved.
Ma Maeng-un, who had arrived with Bi Sa-yeong, demonstrated medical skills truly befitting the son of the Strange Doctor.
He treated the wounded and Lady Na's father, and he even delivered the hopeful news that Lady Na's father would soon regain his health.
Madam Min and her son Na Seo-hwang, who had fled on their own to escape the Iron Demon, did not return.
Of course, they couldn't return because I had made it so, but the people of the Na household, unaware of that, surmised that they probably had too much shame to come back.
I simply chose to remain silent.
"Then I'll see you in a few days. Everyone, travel back safely."
After Ma Maeng-un's declaration that the Na Clan Lord would fully recover his health with proper rest, we finally decided to return to the frontlines, with the exception of Lady Na.
It had been five days since we had come here.
However, Lady Na decided to remain here and continue nursing the clan lord. After all, she still had more than three weeks of leave remaining.
Being able to spend time like this was all thanks to the Sword Saint Elder.
"Lady Na, spend plenty of time with the clan lord and return at your leisure."
"Indeed, Lady Na. Use this opportunity to fulfill your filial duties."
At the words of Na and Bi Sa-yeong, Lady Na smiled brightly.
"Alright. Thank you."
Then her gaze turned toward Squad Leader Seol Pung.
It was a deeper look than the one she gave us.
"Squad Leader, travel back safely too. Thank you for coming."
At that, the squad leader answered with his characteristic awkward expression.
"I will. You return safely as well."
In the past, I would have thought this was perfectly natural, but to me, now knowing the feelings between the two of them, it was a sight that couldn't help but make me feel frustrated just by watching.
Unfortunately, this was all because my last operation hadn't succeeded.
My original intention had been for the squad leader, upon hearing the talk of Lady Na's marriage proposal, to become impatient and seek out Lady Na's father to ask for her hand.
'Hmm, I thought it might be possible, at least, to get him to confess to Lady Na and ask her not to marry someone else, even if it didn't go that far...'
But as it happened, the squad leader had run into Lady Na, who was coming out of the Na Clan Lord's room, first, which had completely thrown my plan off track.
The squad leader hurriedly confirmed with Lady Na whether she really had to get married, and to that question, Lady Na had smiled brilliantly and answered that it wasn't the case anymore.
At that, the squad leader had just mumbled that it was good and then returned.
Hearing that story, I could only let out a hollow laugh.
'They say man plans and heaven decides, and indeed, it's not easy.'
Getting the squad leader to make a cool confession seemed to be a task that truly boasted the highest difficulty.
I got the feeling it could perhaps rival toppling the Blood Cult itself.
Thinking that I'd have to devise a far more thorough operation next time, I resolved to seize the next opportunity.
And I forcibly suppressed the feeling of relief that was rising from one corner of my heart.
Because it was a feeling I had to cleanly sort out now.
It wasn't going well yet, but wasn't it said that nothing is impossible in this world?
***
"We're almost there. Just another half a sichen or so of running and we'll be back at the Thirteen Squads."
"You're right. On the way here, our minds were so urgent we didn't notice, but it really was very quick."
"Yeah, it's really close."
As Squad Leader Seol Pung, Na, and Bi Sa-yeong spoke in turn, Ma Maeng-un, who was being carried on the squad leader's back, shuddered.
"Ugh, that's because the three of you have such incredible movement techniques. This is not a close distance at all!"
The time it took to return wasn't that long.
Na, Bi Sa-yeong, Squad Leader Seol Pung.
For the three who possessed the greatest movement techniques of the Thirteen Squads, the distance to Heungui was nothing more than a stroll that merely required a few sichen.
That was the case even though we had taken turns carrying Ma Maeng-un, whose martial arts were still weak, on our backs.
At that moment, the fact that I had promised to talk with Lady Cheongyeon before leaving for the Na household suddenly came to mind.
'Ah, come to think of it, I rushed off without even apologizing to her, didn't I? Damn it...'
Of course, the situation had been extremely urgent, so the her I knew would surely understand, but I still thought I ought to apologize properly.
'And this time, I really have to have a proper conversation with her.'
Come to think of it, it seemed I had never done anything for Lady Cheongyeon, who had always stayed by my side and done so much for me.
To think I couldn't even offer her any help when she was visibly agonizing—it was nothing short of a disqualification as a friend.
So this time, it was definitely my turn to be of help to Lady Cheongyeon.
This time, at the very least, I wanted to do something for her.
I was thinking that when we returned to the Flying Dragon Thirteen Squads.
The first person to greet us was someone I had never expected at all.
"Come on in! I heard you caught three Iron Demons without even having the Hwagolsan! As expected of the finest talents I had my eye on! Hahaha!"
The one greeting us with a bright face and a hearty laugh was none other than Lady Cheongyeon's father, the Heavenly Robe Sword Saint, Hae Un-baek.
He had come to the Thirteen Squads while we were away.
Startled, we hurriedly bowed to him and said,
"We greet the Sword Saint Elder!"
At that, Ma Maeng-un looked at his face, utterly shocked.
"Hieeek?! You're the Sword Saint?!"
Then he laughed heartily again and approached us, patting our shoulders.
"Hahaha! Why stand on such ceremony between us? Receiving such stiff greetings makes me feel hurt."
I wasn't exactly sure what sort of relationship we had, but he certainly knew how to put others at ease.
His lighthearted manner allowed us to look at him with much more relaxed faces.
Then the Sword Saint looked at Ma Maeng-un and said,
"Anyway, this friend here seems to be the Strange Doctor's son. Just as I heard, he's extremely handsome. I'm quite envious. If only I had been half as good-looking as you when I was young, I wouldn't have failed at my first love, hahaha!"
Ma Maeng-un didn't particularly like it when people mentioned his appearance.
This was because he had a complex about his pretty, feminine looks.
But he didn't seem to feel at all bad about the Sword Saint Elder's words.
As I had felt last time as well, his way of speaking—tossing out words lightly while filling them with such pleasantness that the other person never took offense—often inspired a feeling of wonder in me.
How should I put it.
It was the aura of a respectable adult whom one wanted to emulate, not just in martial arts but in character as well?
He possessed something like that.
It was also the image of a good elder, the first I had ever met in my life, having never had a proper conversation with my father since childhood.
The Sword Saint Elder briefly scanned his surroundings once, then with a sly expression, added one remark.
"Ah, the story about my first love I just mentioned is a secret from Cheongyeon. I ask this of everyone."
I grinned at his jest and asked him,
"Have you come to see Lady Cheongyeon, Elder?"
"Yes, I came immediately after hearing that you all had returned from your dispatch. However..."
The Sword Saint glanced at me and asked,
"Were you all aware that Cheongyeon went to the Fourth Squad as the assistant squad leader?"
At his question, we asked back in surprise,
"Excuse me? Lady Cheongyeon already went to the Fourth Squad as assistant squad leader? So soon?"
"Hmm, judging by your reactions, it seems you didn't know. When I arrived yesterday, she was already using the Fourth Squad's quarters."
This was nothing short of perplexing news.
Of course, I had thought that both I and Lady Cheongyeon would end up transferring to other squads anyway, but I had never imagined she would have moved while Lady Na and I hadn't even returned yet.
I thought that perhaps this was what she had been agonizing over back then.
It felt anew just how regretful it was that I hadn't been able to talk with her.
I asked the Sword Saint again.
"Did you happen to hear what Lady Cheongyeon had to say about it?"
But he only shrugged his shoulders as well.
"I did ask, but she just said it was something that had to be done anyway. I couldn't get anything else out of her."
It seemed she hadn't confided all her troubles even in her father, the Sword Saint Elder.
I figured I would have to ask her directly myself as soon as I got the chance.
We first headed to the Thirteen Squads' headquarters to report our return to the Daeju, then went back to the Seventh Squad's quarters.
And there, three people were waiting for us at the Seventh Squad's quarters.
Even after Lady Cheongyeon had left, there were still three people remaining in the Seventh Squad's quarters where Bae Jong-gwan, Lady Cheongyeon, and Lady Cheon Ju-eun had stayed while we were away.
That was because one other person had newly joined the Seventh Squad.
And that one person was a beautiful woman with a languid expression, exuding a somewhat dreamy atmosphere.
She looked at the squad leader and said,
"You're finally back, Seol Pung."
At that, we, who had been about to greet Bae Jong-gwan and Lady Cheon Ju-eun warmly, found ourselves plunged into a strange, indescribable feeling.
Following her voice, the air around her was being dyed with something sticky and languid in color.
The very air around her grew hazy with presence—that peculiar sensation I had once felt from the senior Seductive Ghost, Son Eun-sang.
Seolpung Jojang answered with a slightly awkward expression.
"Ah, Lady Ya Un-hyang. You had already entered the quarters, I see?"
At that, she smiled faintly and answered.
"I did come here for that purpose, after all. You do keep me waiting far too long."
A strange atmosphere flowed between the two of them.
In that awkward situation, Na and Bi Sa-yeong exchanged glances, then immediately asked Bae Jong-gwan and Lady Cheon through telepathic transmission what was going on.
Then Lady Cheon's telepathic voice came through.
- Unhyang eonni said the reason she volunteered for the Flying Dragon Squad was because of Seolpung Jojang. It's already all over the Thirteen Squads.
Startled by those words, I asked again.
- What? What do you mean? She volunteered because of the squad leader?
The answer Lady Cheon Ju-eun gave was nothing short of speech-stopping.
- Well, something like, "I fell for the squad leader at first sight," perhaps? It doesn't seem like she came because of any grudge, after all.
- ...What?!
Na let out a hollow laugh.
A woman had fallen for the squad leader—a man who could barely even speak to women—and had even volunteered for the Flying Dragon Squad.
And on top of that, for that woman to be such a beauty.
But it was not only her appearance that was astonishing.
By the feel of it, was her martial prowess not at or above the peak-level as well?
For some reason, my chest grew tight.
At this rate, it seemed a future where Na So-jeo and the squad leader came together smoothly would not come easily.
Afterwards, through introductions, we learned that she was the notorious unorthodox female master, Yeomjak Hyeolpyeonseosi, Ya Woon-hyang. It was a truly jaw-dropping identity.
Lady Cheon Ju-eun let out a helpless sigh, remarking that while she did not seem like a bad person, she seemed just as peculiar as Miss Cheongyeon.
It appeared that the Seventh Squad possessed something that drew in unusual people.
***
"Haap!"
Pasasasak!
Using the Heavenly Wind Flower Petals technique, my form scattered in every direction like fluttering petals.
It was the supreme movement technique for disrupting the opponent's gaze. At that, the opponent looked around with an expression of admiration.
At that moment, I, who had moved right behind the opponent, unfurled my sword.
Seonwoo Thirteen Swords, Thirteenth Form.
Illusion Sword Mirror.
Swiiiiish!
My sword, multiplied into dozens, into hundreds, encircled him as if laying siege to his surroundings.
At the same time, I closed my eyes and summoned it forth—
that phantasmal sword which Mukrang had once unfurled,
that sword technique I had longed for even in my dreams every single day.
My eyes flashed open as I loosed a focused shout.
"HAAAP!"
At that instant, the hundreds of illusion swords materialized into reality and poured down upon the opponent.
Shuhaaaaak!
Seonwoo Thirteen Swords, Fifteenth Form.
Emptiness is Form.
It was the sword technique I had not forgotten for a single moment each day, the one I had clung to even in my dreams.
Taking the enlightenment gained when facing two Iron Demons as its foundation, it had finally blossomed into reality.
'It was a success!'
Fierce exultation filled my entire body and spirit.
At that, the Sword Saint, who was being bombarded by hundreds of sword qi strikes, grinned and murmured.
"Excellent, young man."
And at last, he drew his sword.
Shyaaaak!
What the Sword Saint swung was but a single strike.
And not one laden with overwhelming force, nor a blindingly fast quick-draw—it was an exceedingly simple, single sword stroke.
But at that single, ordinary stroke he slashed horizontally, I forgot even the exultation that had filled me moments before and could do nothing but stare at it, dumbfounded.
The sword was not fast.
No, in truth, I could not even distinguish whether it was fast or not.
All that happened was this: the sword was drawn,
the world was divided,
and I saw my sword qi, which had surrounded him, extinguished utterly in that instant.
I could not even tell whether these three events had occurred in a causal sequence, or whether they had simply happened independently and simultaneously.
It was simply a wonder, as though glimpsing something from beyond this world.
The moment I beheld it, the elation that had surged through my entire body was instantly supplanted by a shudder.
While I stared blankly, ruminating on his sword which had embedded itself in my mind, the Sword Saint Elder spoke.
"Truly astonishing. The last time I saw you, you had not even reached the stage of solidifying energy into form, yet in this brief span you have leaped over two walls? And moreover, you do not seem to be at the fledgling stage of having just crossed those walls. Have you obtained some karmic encounter?"
At his question, I snapped back to my senses and answered.
"Ah, yes. I was fortunate to receive a karmic encounter through the temporary guidance of a departed elder who cannot be named."
At that, he laughed in bemusement.
"Ha, what kind of departed elder could provide such guidance? That teaching ability is enviable beyond words. It is to the point that I, too, would wish to receive his instruction."
I could only offer an awkward smile.
Then he let out a sigh and said to me.
"You crossed the wall of the peak level, and in an instant, you have crossed the wall of the next stage as well. And now, you are approaching yet another wall. It is truly a startling development, but if someone were to ask me, 'Is all of that desirable?' I do not think I could answer easily. Do you know why?"
I pondered for a moment, then answered.
"I believe it is because it was excessively fast."
"Yes, that is correct. To be precise, it is because the process is insufficient. For a person, the moment of solidifying one's development is just as important as the moment of advancing. If one pursues only advancement without that solidification, it is possible for everything to suddenly collapse in a single moment. Therefore, in my judgment, from now on, you need to focus not on sword techniques or sword formulas, but on the sword strike principle itself."
I repeated the words he had spoken.
"The sword strike principle, not sword techniques or sword formulas."
Suddenly, that shuddering single sword stroke the Sword Saint had just shown me came to mind.
I felt, for some reason, that I could clearly understand what he was saying.
Perhaps that was why he had broken my sword not with some other method, but with that?
Seeing my expression, the Sword Saint smiled with satisfaction and said.
"Yes, it seems you have understood what I mean. It truly brings me joy to be able to impart teachings to a talent such as yourself. I even feel it to be an honor."
I hurriedly shook my head and said.
"Not at all. The honor is far too much mine. Truly, thank you, Elder."
The Sword Saint spent all his time guiding us except for the hours he passed with Miss Cheongyeon.
Even before our arrival, it was said that he had guided the other squad leaders, and just moments ago, he had first sparred with Seolpung Jojang for a long while and given him generous advice.
I had watched that entire process from the side without missing a single moment.
Though it was advice given to Seolpung Jojang, its contents were blood and flesh to me as well.
According to the Sword Saint Elder's account, Seolpung Jojang now seemed to have the transcendent peak right before his eyes.
The Sword Saint Elder had been pleased as if it were his own accomplishment, saying it was a truly astonishing feat at such a young age.
Then, he had advised the squad leader that from now on, he must fight as many opponents as he could against whom he could give his absolute best, offering this counsel:
'The wall of the transcendent peak is somewhat different from the walls before it. To reach the wall of the transcendent peak until now, one has had to pursue perfection, but to cross that wall, one must construct a world of one's own. Therefore, each individual possesses a different entrance. Thus, no one's advice or teaching can hold great meaning...'
To reach the wall of the transcendent peak, one had to pursue perfection.
Those words, I felt I could understand to some extent.
Seolpung Jojang had said that he crossed the wall because he had concentrated on the profound principle of stillness in motion.
That, too, had been the Sword Saint Elder's advice, of course.
So, pursuing perfection likely meant filling in one's weaknesses rather than one's strengths.
But the need to construct a world of one's own—that had not yet resonated with me.
It seemed like counsel that could only be grasped once one reached that level.
The Sword Saint Elder continued speaking.
'It seems there may be something I can tell you after all. You possess the soul of a warrior. Though on the surface you appear to have a gentle temperament, I can see a fighting spirit that boils like a raging wave. Therefore, struggle endlessly. That, I believe, will allow you to cross your wall.'
Even after that, the Sword Saint Elder graciously dueled the squad leader time and again.
And after the duels ended, the squad leader went to a quiet place and remained submerged in meditation.
Immediately after that was my turn.
And in the bout that unfolded, even though I had succeeded in the Emptiness is Form for the first time just as now, I had lost my wits at a single sword stroke.
The Sword Saint spoke.
"From now on, watch closely the sword strike principle I show you. Endeavoring to catch up to it will be of aid to you. If your sword can pursue the trajectory of my sword, then you, too, like Seolpung Jojang, will be able to reach the wall of the transcendent peak. And if at last you can create a sword that differs from mine, then at that moment, you will be able to cross even that wall."
And once again, he demonstrated the sword for me.
The slash which had, in a single instant, annihilated my Emptiness is Form, and a thrust no less astonishing than that slash.
And having beheld it, I had no choice but to enter meditation without a word.
For I wished to engrave that sublime sword strike principle not upon my brain, but upon my soul.