Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Heart Demon (4)
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Biwol's heart demon was originally the fate she was meant to have.
The Heavenly Killing Star.
It was the aftermath of the settings written by the author Han Do-hyun, a variable born from him twisting Biwol's destiny, and the future she would have faced if he hadn't saved her.
"Master...? How are you in my inner world?!"
Biwol glanced back and forth between Bing Yeon and her heart demon, her face burning with shame as she covered it with her hands.
How hideous must she look to her master? Even if it was her innermost thoughts, she never imagined they would spiral so far out of control.
"Did you think your master couldn't find his own disciple?"
Bing Yeon stroked Biwol's head as he spoke. The rough yet warm touch made the corners of her mouth curl up involuntarily.
"Master, forgive me. It's because I'm so inadequate that this happened..."
A flush kept rising to Biwol's cheeks. She remembered how she'd fallen into qi deviation, craving Bing Yeon's love.
"Enough. It's my failing as your master that I didn't realize how much you'd been suppressing your emotions. So let's correct it together."
"Correct it together...?"
"You'll take my place and continue this sword discussion."
Bing Yeon smiled at Biwol.
From now on, she had to defeat the heart demon herself for it to mean anything. If her master did it for her, it could always return.
"I just need to cut off that loathsome heart demon's head, right, Master?"
Biwol gripped the sword for the first time, feeling its texture as she shouted. Though made of ice, it felt as sturdy and heavy as steel.
"Yes. I'll help with your shortcomings."
The sword her master had made solely for her. Just recalling that filled her heart with emotion.
"Hahahahaha...!!!"
Watching them, Biwol's heart demon burst into mad laughter, like a lunatic seized by frenzy or a martial artist lost to qi deviation.
"Good Biwol, I told you! I'm you, and you're me!"
"...No, you're not me. To be precise, you're the darkness inside me. The weak heart that fears the master won't love me, that dreads a world where he's gone someday."
"So what? You adore the master too! More tenderly than anyone in this world! When it comes to the one you love, what's wrong with that?!"
"The love Master taught me isn't the kind that hurts or harms others."
Biwol aimed her sword at her heart demon. The sharp tip pointed straight at her, her stance radiating unyielding resolve.
"...The world is shrouded in darkness! A wretched child born to slay her own master dares lecture me on right and wrong?!"
Seeing this, the heart demon drew her sword too. Her shadowy, wavering demonic form exuded a ferocious aura.
"I am the Heavenly Demon, the Heavenly Killing Star! Come, let's see if you can win with that esteemed master of yours!"
The heart demon's speech and energy had transformed into that of the Heavenly Demon from the original Diamond Fist King. Each breath she exhaled shook the earth, sending bone-chilling cold that flayed the skin.
"I am Biwol of the Ice Dragon Harmony Sect. I'll slay you and overcome my heart demon."
Yet even knowing it was stronger than her current self, Biwol couldn't back down. This was the inner darkness she had to face herself.
"I'll close the distance to one step with Heavenly Demon Supremacy Step and strike your dantian from below upward with Heavenly Demon Blood Tribulation Slash."
Killing intent shot from the sword tip like lightning toward Biwol, but she recited her forms without fear.
"No, Biwol. Use Treading Snow Without Trace here. The ground is covered in snow. That power-heavy footwork will sink your feet and throw off your balance easily."
Bing Yeon pointed out the flaw. The heart demon clicked her tongue, watching Biwol nearly err on her first sword discussion.
"Now, follow this."
Footprints appeared in the lightly piled snow. Following the leader's steps exactly would keep her safe.
Using them as markers, Biwol slowly stepped forward, weaving her sword path.
"...I'll deflect it with the Wudang Sect's Taiji Wisdom Sword! Infusing the essence of flow, I'll use Transfer Flower Connect Wood to turn your attack against you!"
Space rippled momentarily, the sword bending like a branch extending toward her own dantian.
"At this rate, my dantian...!"
"Transfer Flower Connect Wood isn't unique to Wudang, Biwol. Focus on the warped space. Think of a way to seize and twist it."
In that moment, Bing Yeon advised his disciple. The principle of using an enemy's force unknowingly wasn't exclusive to Wudang's Taiji Wisdom Sword.
Meaning to greatly shift heaven and earth, it was the supreme Western martial art from Persia, the Ming Cult's Proud Crane Divine Art.
Great Shift of Heaven and Earth.
"I'll use Great Shift of Heaven and Earth to redirect the attack you turned against me."
Biwol shouted, flicking the incoming blade away with her foot. Each motion corrected the twisted space with focused power.
"I'll draw a second sword from behind and use Mysterious Dragon Sect's Twin Dragon Whirlwind Sword! Let the whirlwind tear you apart!"
Judging a single sword insufficient, the heart demon unleashed a dual-wield art. Could she block the whirlwind at such close range?
"Heavenly Demon Divine Art, Nine Heavens Demon Sword. I'll spin and target your flank."
Biwol spun to counter the whirlwind, swinging her sword, but it wasn't enough against attacks from all directions.
"Biwol. Without preparation, your spin speed will be uneven. Lower your stance more, bend your knees deeper. Only with a solid center of gravity can you reverse the enemy's flow."
A sharp sword wind grazed her cheek, drawing blood, and Bing Yeon offered another pointer.
Like a master teaching a novice go player the moves she missed, Bing Yeon kept revealing her blind spots.
"Have you no shame as a martial artist?! You don't even dream of achieving greatness alone, just trailing your master's shadow! Is this truly martial virtue and chivalry?!"
The heart demon mocked Bing Yeon and Biwol. Unlike her, who had honed herself in solitude, Biwol had her master's aid, making her seem weaker.
Weak and soft.
Inexperienced and frail.
Like an unpolished sword, nothing about her was right.
"In wuxia, 'martial' means the strength to protect the weak, and 'chivalry' the compassion to pity them."
By her side stood a transcendent master whose pure understanding of martial ways surpassed all.
"Biwol, that's your darkness. From clashing swords, do you see what's wrong?"
"Each exchange makes my wrist angle unstable. The sword's trajectory keeps twisting."
Biwol spoke, her hands trembling. It was another version of herself ahead, so why the vast gap?
"She's exploiting that. You're not yet of age, so your strength is low and your stature small. She's trying to overpower you."
Bing Yeon knew the reason for the difference. Even if the jianghu warned to beware women, children, and elders, no sturdy adult's full power could be matched by them.
"Then, what should I do?"
"Match her breathing and anticipate one move ahead. Find flaws in her fingertips, toes, stance..."
"No, Biwol. First address your own flaws. Trying tricks without basics will only deepen your defeat."
Bing Yeon shook his head at her words. Normally, against a strong foe, one used even stronger arts.
"The heart demon's weakness is the same as yours."
This was a sword discussion on martial arts.
"This is a sword discussion in your inner world. Realizing your deficiencies is the key to victory."
Bing Yeon stroked her head again. This was the insight he wanted her to gain from the start.
Recognizing her shortcomings and pondering how to reach higher realms.
"Her breathing is faster than yours, her toes always point forward. Even anticipating one move, overturning the board is hard against such an opponent."
He merely guided her direction and effort from the side.
"Then what should I do?"
"To control the sword's path, straighten your wrist more, distribute force evenly across it. A steady tip is the foundation you must engrave in your mind."
Bing Yeon adjusted her grip with his hands. Like a finely carved statue, her form refined and restrained.
"To break conventions, master the basics first. That is true transcendence."
In go, revolutionary moves require perfect grasp of fundamentals.
"Let's try Heavenly Demon Blood Tribulation Slash once more."
"But that form failed just now..."
"Mix in leg techniques to link with the sword. Use your small, flexible build as strength. Even the heart demon can't block it forever."
Even a surrounded, failing stone in go could turn the tide—that was the beauty of the game.
"Y-You damned brat...!"
"Master, I did it! Now the next move..."
Biwol's kick slammed into the heart demon's solar plexus. She spat blood and staggered three steps back.
"......"
"...Master?"
Biwol watched, awaiting his next advice, but Bing Yeon fell silent.
"With the Heavenly Demon Divine Art's tenth form, Heavenly Demon World Destruction, I'll shatter you and this inner world. Block it if you can!"
Seizing the opening, the heart demon prepared her final move—a form Biwol had never seen or used.
Facing that sharp killing intent, Biwol felt fear. Why wasn't her master helping?
Her hands shook, the sword tip wavering. At this rate, she'd lose the discussion and be consumed by the heart demon.
'Master, Master, Master, why won't you help this inadequate disciple...!'
Biwol repeated his name inwardly, and as if in answer, Bing Yeon whispered softly.
"Biwol. This time, there's nothing more I can teach."
In that instant, Biwol's eyes widened at a new sight. High in the snowy sky floated something.
A beacon of hope that dawn comes even in endless darkness, that can rise even in sunlit day.
"...I'll follow Master's final lesson."
Biwol.
It was a name so simple.
Biwol infused her sword grip with gratitude to her master, distributing power evenly, straightening her wrist for a steady tip.
She tensed her legs, lowered her waist for proper balance, stepped firmly with her left foot to focus the sword's power.
Breathing steadily—slow, deep inhales and exhales—she'd unleash all force on the swing.
"I hate the heavens that abandoned me, but I thank them for letting me meet Master."
The raised sword tip drew seawater as if devouring worldly sorrows, forming a swirling vortex.
"Heavens are heavens because, like a master's heart, their height is immeasurable. They overlook all things, another world unto themselves."
A path opened.
Through choking demonic qi, a gap for her blade appeared.
Expanded vision, reclaimed breath.
Seeing beyond the immediate move to the flow.
"Snow falling like cold white teaches warmth, the devouring sea cools scorching summer."
All this was basics, learned from her master Bing Yeon.
"Thus, cherishing all Master taught me, even loving myself—to declare with this throat."
Biwol met her darkness's gaze head-on.
"This girl's name is Biwol."
Heavenly Demon Divine Art,
Eleventh Form,
Biwol.
"The moon floating over Master's boundless heart, Biwol arrives."
Kwakakakakak—!
A circular sword strike like a massive moon crashing from the sky poured onto the heart demon.
"...Well done."
Bing Yeon watched, stroking his disciple's head with a quiet voice.