Chapter 241
Chapter 241
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 241
Chapter Title: Yin-Yang Taiji Physique (44)
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The first time I gripped a sword in my hand, my father said to me, "You are fated to live your entire life in loneliness." He lamented those words right in front of a young child who didn't even know what loneliness felt like.
"Wh-what is this?!"
"Hahaha... There's nothing more I can teach you."
"Nooo! I don't wanna play with you anymore!"
And before even a year had passed, I came to understand my father's words. Shock, anger, envy, jealousy... People who had only ever been kind to me drifted away one by one, each for their own reasons. All I'd done was swing my sword, but was that really so unacceptable?
"Get lost! You're probably laughing at me inside anyway!"
No, that's not true. I wasn't laughing at you.
"Sorry, but could you please go somewhere else? Everyone's uncomfortable because of you."
I never meant to make anyone uncomfortable.
"...How am I supposed to spar with someone who can already manifest sword qi? Are you mocking me?"
Mocking? I've never done that.
But... you all never even bothered to listen to me. That first taste of loneliness was excruciatingly painful, tormenting me deeply. Was I doomed to carry this agony for the rest of my life?
"Haha, it's Bin. How's Father doing?"
Terrified of that fate, I clung desperately to the first glimmer of hope I encountered.
After emerging from closed-door training, my big brother still looked as lazy as ever, but he happily indulged his little sister's whims. And in doing so, he became my ideal, making me feel like I was up against an impenetrable wall.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't win. No matter how desperately I pushed, I couldn't break through. He was perfection itself.
Thanks to my brother, I escaped that suffocating loneliness and could finally enjoy the sword from the heart. "See? Father's words were wrong," I'd say with a grin.
"Haa... Not bad? You were pretty impressive today. At this rate, you'll catch up to me in no time."
Why was he already trying to end it?
"Mm, that's enough. Any further, and we'll both be in danger."
I hadn't even gotten started yet?
"Good match. If I get careless now, I might actually lose. As expected of my little sister."
A lie. He wasn't careless at all.
But before even three years had passed, I realized my brother was just an ordinary mortal like the rest. Sweating coldly as he gauged my reactions, dodging the fight with all sorts of excuses. Instinctively, I knew loneliness would claim me again.
"Good match. I've still got a long way to go."
So I decided to hide my talent, my skill, my prowess.
"Hahaha. No empty praise there—you've improved a ton."
"It's because I have such a great goal right in front of me. Looking forward to more spars, big brother."
If even my brother abandoned me, I'd be alone forever. I couldn't stand that. I didn't want to live out Father's ridiculous prophecy. I love the sword and enjoy sparring, but that doesn't mean I want to be lonely. I just... want to live like everyone else.
And strangely, people started filling up the space around me.
"What? She's just another run-of-the-mill late-stage expert."
"Run-of-the-mill? Isn't she too strong for that? Among our peers, only Nangong Jin could beat her."
"She still can't beat the adults, though. We were scared for nothing. Guess she just grows fast."
Talent worthy of recognition, skill worthy of envy, prowess that drew people close—it garnered attention. I still faced jealousy and envy, but it was minor now, and people praised the blood of the Nangong family.
"Bin, ignore what those idiots say. They're useless."
"Ahaha... Got it."
But that left my heart feeling hollow.
Is it right to keep hiding myself like this? Is deceiving myself to avoid loneliness the correct path? I don't know... I just don't know...
I wandered lost, grasping at straws. To find answers, I gripped my sword. I challenged everyone I met to spars, arrogantly testing them. Even earning the moniker "Little Sword Ghost," I strove to find a new ideal.
But I found nothing.
"No matter how you struggle, you can't escape your fate. That's the destiny of the world's greatest."
Was I truly doomed to fight the world alone, just as Father said? Or should I abandon everything and hide under my brother's shadow like now? Immature and foolish as I was, I couldn't find the right answer.
So I ran away.
Back to the time when I thought my brother was perfect, when I had a goal, spars were fun, and life was joyful. I erased myself and fled to the past.
"Why did you retreat?"
"Young Lady Nangong, why?"
"Why did you try to lose?"
But because of that man... I found myself again.
It might've been better if I'd stayed oblivious... That man named Baek did something utterly cruel. Even though he couldn't beat my brother.
If I'd swung my sword without retreating as he said, if I'd cut down Elder Moonlit Night Sword... No, I won't think about it. I don't want to go back to those days when I wasn't even treated like a person.
But revenge... I have to get it.
Right after this spar ends, I'll list every single mistake he made from start to finish, right in front of him. ...What kind of idiotic thought is that? So childish. It's been days since I snapped out of it, but my head's still a mess.
At this rate, I won't be able to watch the spar prop—
-Kwa-ga-ga-gang!
-Kwa-aang!
Not bad, right? How much training did he cram into that short time? Still full of openings, but that sharp sword path is intriguing. And the way he moves like he's reading my brother—fascinating.
Is he revealing what he hid in the last spar? Unlike before, when he focused on defense and counterattacks, starting aggressive feels oddly familiar. That style... it looks just like my brother's... Brother? Now that I think about it, it resembles Brother's sword path.
-Chae-aeng!
-Chaeng, chaeng, chaeng, chaeng, chae-chae-chaeng!
Like getting soaked in a drizzle, when the opponent lets their guard down amid the slow-descending sword qi, he suddenly unleashes a torrent, not allowing even a counter. That's how he earned the title Arrow Rain Sword. But the one displaying it now isn't my brother—it's that man named Baek.
Impressive. So that's why he stuck to defense before? Stealing someone else's swordsmanship—what a rotten hobby.
But my brother won't fall to that. He knows the weaknesses of his own style better than anyone. Exploit them, and he'll seize the momentum in one go. What a letdown. Just a mimic. Shouldn't have gotten my hopes up.
Of course, it's no talent to underestimate, but mimicking others won't beat my brother... No, that doesn't make sense.
-Kwaaaaang!
"...What is the meaning of this?"
"What do you mean? It's a spar."
"Why are you using the Nangong family's swordsmanship?"
"That earlier? Sorry, but it's not yours. It's a new form I created. Emperor Sword Forms. What do you think—pretty usable, huh?"
"...Guess I need to show you it's not something you can imitate easily."
My brother only demonstrated one move of the Sovereign Sword Forms, and he recreated that strike on the spot? What absurd talent. Even I couldn't do that easily...
-Kwa-aang!
-Bang, kwa-aang!
"I told you, I'm not imitating. It's my own creation."
No, even Forms Two and Three? My brother hasn't even shown those... Don't tell me he copied from my spars? We never crossed blades directly. Just watching from the sidelines, and he replicated the Nangong family's Sovereign Sword Forms?
Of course, he doesn't know the mental cultivation, so it's just the surface mimicry. Even so, he's producing power on par with the Sovereign Sword Forms. So this is the talent worthy of commentary. He's almost on my brother's level now.
"I said I wouldn't get careless, yet I repeated the same mistake."
"Yeah, that's one of your weaknesses."
"...What do you mean?"
"Haha. Nothing. Anyway, let's get serious now."
"Fine. I'll be careful from here on."
"Right back at you!"
No, he's equal... or even superior?
No, their talents are on different levels altogether?
He wasn't this strong when we first met, but now I’m dying to cross swords with him. Can someone grow that much mid-spar? He's overwhelming my brother—who's unleashing the Sovereign Sword Forms in earnest—without allowing a single attack.
Watching this... it reminds me of my spars with Brother.
The Sovereign Sword Forms, but overly gentle, thus feeble—a coward who lowers his own sword. And the fool who knows it but halts attacks, pretending ignorance and surrendering. But now, there's no peaceful atmosphere like back then. No consideration for each other, no idiot hiding their true self. Just two warriors struggling to win.
Ah, I'm jealous. I want... a spar like this too.
I wanted... to clash with my brother at full strength.
At some point, Brother's gaze changed. At some point, his meddling began. At some point, I sensed his feelings—what they meant... To hear the answer, I wanted to face him for real.
And now... I want to cross swords with that man even more.
Can he truly mimic everything I have? No, can he even reach my level? Unlike Father's words of lifelong solitude, will he stay by my side as a worthy rival? I'm curious. I want to know. That's why I want to test him.
So hurry up and beat my brother already. Get stronger than you are now. Strong enough for me to go all out.
What are you doing? Take those attacks head-on. It's the Sovereign Sword Forms. Don't retreat. Yes, with bold and spirited poise, arrogant and proud—press the assault. Don't stop. Don't rest. Show the dignity of an emperor.
That's not enough. You're still sorely lacking. But you can do it. You can get much stronger. So take one more step forward. Even a cornered rat bites the cat, but it's still just a rat. Don't fear a desperate counter from a trapped foe. Step forward as if it's only natural.
Then, cleaving through everything in your path—
"Gaaahhh!"
sword gang will clear the way.
"See... I told you to be careful."
Ah, I want to do it right now.