Chapter 163: Learning the Union of Sword and Body - Part 2
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 163: Learning the Union of Sword and Body - Part 2
Whoosh!
Sun-woo swung his sword at Ok-ryeong once more.
This time, he aimed for her right shoulder.
Clang!
However, Sun-woo’s blade was parried with effortless ease.
Thwack!
After smoothly brushing his sword aside, she struck Sun-woo across the head with the flat of her blade.
"Ugh!"
Sun-woo cried out at the sharp sting blooming in his skull.
"Sun-woo, if you’re going to keep your sword path simple, you must either use the Fast Sword for speed or the Heavy Sword for weight. Swinging a sword that is neither one nor the other, like you just did, makes it far too easy to counter."
She looked at him, her voice intentionally stern.
She was right.
Nothing was easier to deal with than a lifeless, indecisive blade.
Rubbing his head, Sun-woo lunged at her again. This time, he intended to incorporate various feints and transitions into his technique.
His sword began to descend upon Ok-ryeong, tracing a complex web of movements. The blade, which had been aimed at her throat, suddenly veered toward her chest.
Clang!
But it was promptly blocked by Ok-ryeong’s sword.
"To use the Illusion Sword properly, you must use not just your wrist, but your entire arm—even your entire body. Otherwise, it’s difficult to create truly diverse variations."
Ok-ryeong deflected his blade again and thrust her own forward.
Clang!
Sun-woo immediately retracted his deflected sword to block her strike. Then, he began to lift his foot. He intended to kick her away.
"Tch."
But before he could, Ok-ryeong extended her right foot and stomped down on his. Sun-woo’s movement was cut off before he could even lift his leg.
Thud!
She then extended her left hand and struck Sun-woo in the solar plexus.
"Gah!"
Sun-woo tried to throw a left hook, but his fist was repeatedly intercepted by her hand. Ok-ryeong seemed to be an expert in hand-to-hand combat as well, blocking Sun-woo’s punches with practiced ease.
"Urgh..."
Sun-woo let out a groan, parried her sword, and quickly leaped back to create distance. He felt that if they continued to clash like this, he would only end up with more bruises.
"Huff... huff... huff..."
Sun-woo panted heavily, staring at Ok-ryeong. His eyes were filled with shock.
He was realizing all over again just what a monster Ok-ryeong was. He knew she was at the peak of the Transcendent Realm, but he hadn't imagined the gap in their levels would be this vast.
This was the difference between himself and a master who had reached the pinnacle of the Transcendent Realm.
Thinking back, even when he fought Hwangbo Gang without internal energy, he had been one-sidedly pushed back and could never seize the momentum. Sun-woo had assumed the reason he couldn't win was that Hwangbo Gang had achieved Sword and Blade Immunity.
But through this duel with Ok-ryeong, he realized the truth.
He was simply weak.
"Shall we take a short break?"
Ok-ryeong spoke as she watched Sun-woo struggle for breath. Unlike him, her breathing wasn't labored in the slightest.
"Huff... No!"
Sun-woo replied, catching his breath.
"I can do this all day!"
At his answer, Ok-ryeong gave a radiant smile and raised her sword again.
"I like that tenacity of yours, Sun-woo."
With those words, she charged straight at him.
Whoosh!
She thrust toward Sun-woo’s shoulder with incredible speed.
Clang!
Sun-woo quickly raised his sword to deflect hers and swung back at her. However, she used her lead foot as an axis to spin her body. Adding the rotational force to her right elbow, she aimed for Sun-woo’s temple.
Sun-woo leaned back to avoid the elbow strike. Then, he quickly straightened up and attempted a headbutt.
Ok-ryeong grabbed Sun-woo’s neck with her left hand and pushed him to the right. Sun-woo’s headbutt met only empty air.
"Tch."
Sun-woo clicked his tongue. It seemed nothing was working.
Thwack!
It happened then. While still holding her sword, she threw a punch at Sun-woo.
Sun-woo winced at the sudden pain. He scrambled backward, once again putting distance between them.
"Where did you learn to brawl like that?"
Sun-woo asked, looking at her in bewilderment. Despite her delicate and elegant appearance, Ok-ryeong was highly skilled in hand-to-hand combat. Extremely so. In just that brief exchange, he had been hit repeatedly.
"In the field," she replied with a bright smile.
Sun-woo nodded instinctively. In the past, she had waged a one-woman war against a massive Unorthodox sect called the Geoak Sect. Those despicable villains would hardly have given her the luxury of only using a sword. Her brawling skills must have been forged naturally through those battles.
Sun-woo raised his sword again. He was certain now.
If it was her—if it was Ok-ryeong—she could lead him further than he could go alone. He felt like a fool for struggling by himself when he had such an incredible teacher right beside him.
With eyes sparkling, Sun-woo slowly raised his blade. Ok-ryeong watched him and took her stance as well.
Clang!
The two began to clash once more.
*
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
Countless strikes were exchanged.
Sometimes it was the Heavy Sword, other times the Fast Sword, and at other times the Illusion Sword, creating a dizzying blur of steel.
"Huff... huff..."
For the first time, heavy breathing could be heard from Ok-ryeong’s lips. It was a stark contrast to the composure she had shown until now.
Internally, she was astonished. Sun-woo’s rate of growth was beyond anything she had imagined.
Initially, she had wanted to show Sun-woo that he didn't always have to be the one protecting her. She also intended to tease him a bit, since he had been underestimating her just because she couldn't use internal energy.
The result had been exactly as she expected. Sun-woo had left his neck exposed far too easily, resulting in a small scratch. How she had laughed inwardly at his stunned expression.
Then, she began to teach him through their exchange. Although Sun-woo’s realm was high, she had the strong impression that his "Skill" had not yet caught up to his level.
But before long, she was faced with a startling reality.
Sun-woo’s growth was nonsensical. He began to absorb her teachings like a sponge soaking up water. His sword became sharper, heavier, and more versatile by the second.
She began to think that the Yin-Yang Demon's claim about him having no talent for martial arts was a total lie. Of course, that claim might have been true in a sense. Martial arts required the harmony of all six elements: Essence, Qi, Spirit, Mind, Skill, and Body to achieve high results.
At the very least, as far as she could tell, Sun-woo’s talent for "Skill" was beyond imagination. He learned everything the moment he experienced it.
And it wasn't just swordsmanship. His hand-to-hand combat had also grown to the point where he was no longer being pushed back by her.
She couldn't hide her amazement. As time passed, she felt as though her entire repertoire was being drained.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
As more time passed, they were merely trading blows. The overwhelming dominance Ok-ryeong had displayed at the start had vanished without a trace.
Sun-woo was currently in a state of self-oblivion. He simply swung his sword as his hands led him, as the blade itself wished to move.
A sword lunged for his throat.
Clang!
He lifted his blade slightly to parry it and immediately followed through with a slash.
Swish!
However, she had already anticipated this and pushed his arm to change the sword's path. Sun-woo’s blade cut through the air. He quickly retracted it and swung again.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sound of clashing steel rang in his ears. Sun-woo swung his sword by instinct while sinking into deep thought.
He had briefly reached the realm of the Union of Sword and Body before. How could he reach that state again?
Sun-woo began to slowly recall the feeling of that moment. Before he had cut down Hwangbo Gang, he had thought of the two strongest swordsmen he knew and reflected on their words.
[I simply cut what I wanted to cut.]
[I am but a single sword.]
A single sword that cuts what it wants to cut. The state where one becomes the sword itself.
They didn't see the sword as a mere tool. They saw it as more than an object to be swung; they saw it as a medium that projected their very selves.
The clue was there.
Sun-woo began to focus all his senses on the sword. He thought to himself: It is just a sword. I am just a sword that cuts what it wants to cut.
Then, Sun-woo swung.
Clang!
In that instant, Ok-ryeong’s blade wavered as she received the blow. She felt a momentum entirely different from before.
Looking at Sun-woo, Ok-ryeong smiled. It seemed he had finally reached that realm.
She raised her sword and charged at him, determined to help him make this realization entirely his own.
*
"Haa... huff..."
"Huff... huff..."
Sun-woo and Ok-ryeong stood with their swords crossed, panting heavily. A significant amount of time had passed since they began their duel. Naturally, both were exhausted, their bodies drenched in sweat.
"Huff... Sun-woo."
Ok-ryeong called out to him between ragged breaths.
"Did you... reach it?"
"...Yes."
Sun-woo replied, steadying his breathing. Thanks to her help, he had finally reached the realm of the Union of Sword and Body. He had achieved incredible growth in a very short time.
"You did well."
Hearing his answer, Ok-ryeong gave him a radiant smile. Sun-woo stared at her blankly. Her smiling face, even while soaked in sweat, was incredibly lovely.
Step, step.
Sun-woo walked slowly toward her. Her body was covered in small scratches here and there. It was the result of her hard work in dealing with him while he was in his trance-like state.
"Does it hurt?"
Sun-woo asked, his voice laced with concern. Even though he had been in a trance, he felt a pang of guilt for leaving marks on her fair skin.
"I'm fine. Female martial artists are stronger than you think."
As if sensing his worry, Ok-ryeong spoke as if it were nothing. Feeling her consideration, Sun-woo was moved. Just how kind could this woman be?
Grab!
Unable to contain himself, Sun-woo pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Oh my, I'm all dirty from the sweat."
She spoke anxiously, worried that she might smell of perspiration. She was covered in sweat, and she felt embarrassed to be held by her lover in such a state.
"I'm dirty too, so it's fine."
Sun-woo replied dismissively. At this moment, his affection for her was overflowing. She had comforted him when he was drowning in fear and self-reproach, and she had risked herself to help him reach the realm he so desired. How could he not adore her?
Besides, she didn't smell of sweat at all. Instead, a fragrant scent drifted from her.
"Ok-ryeong."
Sun-woo spoke, looking into her eyes.
"Yes?"
"I love you."
Sun-woo spoke from the bottom of his heart. He felt that in both the modern world and the Murim, there would never be another woman like Ok-ryeong. He wanted to express that feeling to her.
"I love you too."
At Sun-woo’s sudden confession, Ok-ryeong expressed her love in return. What woman in the world wouldn't love to hear those words from her partner? The smile on her lips deepened.
"Shall we wash up together?" Sun-woo asked, his gaze turning sultry.
"The tub is small, so I don't think two people will fit."
She replied as if it were out of the question.
"Maybe if we curl up together?"
"We wouldn't be able to wash properly like that."
Ok-ryeong shook her head at his suggestion.
"...Right."
At her firm refusal, Sun-woo lowered his head, looking dejected.
"I'll go in to wash first."
Ok-ryeong pulled away from his embrace and turned to walk away.
"Ah..."
Sun-woo let out a sigh of disappointment. He wanted to confirm his love for her right now, but she seemed tired today.
"Oh, that's right, Sun-woo."
It was then. Ok-ryeong turned back as if she had remembered something.
"What is it?"
"Lady Yorang said she was tired and went to sleep early today."
Sun-woo snapped his head up to look at her.
"And when Lady Yorang falls asleep, she wouldn't wake up even if someone carried her away."
"!!!"
Sun-woo’s eyes widened at her words.
"Don't make me wait too long."
Ok-ryeong looked at him with an expression of pure adoration.
"I... I understand!"
Hearing his answer, Ok-ryeong turned and began to walk away with light, graceful steps. With every stride, her firm, shapely hips swayed enticingly from side to side.
Gulp.
Watching her go, Sun-woo swallowed hard.