Chapter 224: Building a Friendship with Seol-hyang - 4
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 224: Building a Friendship with Seol-hyang - 4
Un-hye felt a strange sense of unease.
It was because of the silence inside the carriage.
Normally, her talkative senior would have been chattering away, creating enough noise to make one's ears ring. But today, contrary to her usual self, that chatterbox of a senior kept her mouth tightly shut.
Un-hye couldn't get used to it.
What could have happened in the brief moment they had swapped carriages?
Un-hye stole a glance at Seol-hyang, trying to read the room.
Seol-hyang’s beautiful lips were pouted, and her eyes, usually brimming with mischief, were downcast. She looked exactly like someone who had just been scolded.
This only deepened Un-hye’s confusion.
Was her senior the type to be easily discouraged? She was known for her sly personality, someone who could laugh off even the harshest reprimand. Perhaps it was because of her status as the Sect Leader’s disciple, but she wasn't one to lose heart easily.
And yet, here she was, looking completely defeated.
What on earth had happened?
With the usually energetic woman falling silent, the interior of the carriage became deathly quiet. Un-hye’s eyes darted around. To her side, her peer Un-wol was also looking at Seol-hyang with a worried expression.
Sigh.
Un-hye let out a heavy breath inwardly. It seemed she had no choice but to ask what was wrong.
"Um... Senior?" Un-hye gathered her courage and spoke.
"..."
Despite the call, there was no response.
"Senior!" Un-hye raised her voice, refusing to give up.
"...Yeah?" Seol-hyang finally replied, her voice trailing off.
"Did something happen?"
"It’s nothing."
"How can you say it's nothing? You look so depressed!" Un-hye countered.
There was no way that expression belonged to someone who was 'fine.'
"It’s no use," Seol-hyang said, shaking her head.
"What do you mean, it's no use?"
"Even if I tell you, it won't solve anything."
"Senior, you don't know that until you try."
Un-hye pushed back against Seol-hyang’s negativity. She felt it was a bad habit to give up before even trying to find a solution together.
"I might be lower in rank than you, but I am older. I might be able to give you some helpful advice," Un-hye added, her eyes sparkling.
"…Un-hye." Seol-hyang looked at her.
"Yes?"
"How can I reach the Upper Stage of the Super-Peak Realm?"
"Huh!?"
Un-hye’s face contorted into an expression of pure bewilderment. The Upper Stage of the Super-Peak Realm? Out of nowhere? Why was she asking her that?
"Was the reason you were so gloomy... because of your martial arts stage?"
"Yeah."
"..."
Un-hye fell silent. She could offer advice on human relationships or provide comfort, but she had absolutely nothing to say regarding martial arts.
Un-hye had only recently reached the First-Class realm. There was no way she could give advice to Seol-hyang, who was already at the Super-Peak.
"See? I told you it was no use," Seol-hyang said with a small smirk, as if finding Un-hye’s reaction cute.
"But... why are you suddenly worrying about things you never used to care about?" Un-hye asked, puzzled.
Usually, Seol-hyang treated martial arts as either a nuisance or merely a tool to make hunting easier. Seeing her agonize over her cultivation stage was bizarre.
"I need it now. A reason to become stronger." Seol-hyang looked at Un-hye.
"And what is that?"
"For my freedom," Seol-hyang replied in a serious tone.
Un-hye shook her head slightly. As always, she couldn't get used to Seol-hyang’s way of speaking, which often lacked context.
"When have you ever lacked freedom?" Un-hye argued.
Wasn't she the one who treated the entire world as her playground, complaining that the Emei Sect’s gates were too narrow? Why was she suddenly seeking freedom?
"What I have now isn't enough," Seol-hyang said, shaking her head. "I need to become the strongest in the Emei Sect."
"What!?" Un-hye gasped in shock.
"Before this trip to the North Sea is over."
"That’s impossible!" Un-hye shouted, convinced it was madness.
The journey to the North Sea was expected to take about six months. Becoming the strongest in Emei in just half a year was a pipe dream. There were several experts in the sect comparable to her, and two who were far beyond her: the Sect Leader, Guwol Shin-ni, and Bulheo Satae, who was considered the strongest in Emei.
It was impossible to surpass women who had trained in martial arts for decades in just six months—no matter how much of a once-in-a-century genius Seol-hyang was.
"Un-hye." Seol-hyang called her name calmly.
"Yes?"
"Do you think it’s 'normal' to reach the Mid-Stage of the Super-Peak Realm by the age of twenty?"
"..."
Un-hye shut her mouth. Come to think of it, the woman before her was a genius who had already turned the impossible into reality. It felt foolish to debate the word 'impossible' in front of her.
"It’s not impossible," Seol-hyang said, her eyes filled with a resolute will. "And I happen to have a helper."
Seol-hyang finished with a small smile. Un-hye could only tilt her head in confusion.
*
Creeeeeak.
Sun-woo pushed open the door to his assigned room. A small but well-furnished guest room came into view.
Step, step.
Sun-woo walked straight to the bed and collapsed onto it.
"Ughhhhh..."
A groan escaped his lips. He finally felt like he could breathe. He had spent the entire day in a stiff, uncomfortable carriage. Lying on a soft bed felt like walking on clouds.
A small smile played on his lips. He felt lucky to have secured a room. If they had stopped a little short of the village or gone a bit further, he would have been forced to sleep outdoors.
"Yaaaawn."
Lying there, Sun-woo let out a massive yawn. The softness of the bed was an open invitation to sleep. He felt his entire body grow heavy and relaxed. He felt like he could drift off to dreamland the moment he closed his eyes.
Sun-woo slowly closed his eyes to recharge for tomorrow.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
It was then. A sound began to grate on his nerves. It was incredibly faint, but to his highly developed senses, it was impossible to ignore.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Sun-woo tried to ignore it and squeezed his eyes shut tighter.
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
'Dammit.'
In the end, he cursed inwardly and sat up. The irritating sound had become more persistent, hounding his ears. Sun-woo glared toward the source of the noise.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The sound was coming from the firmly closed window. Someone was knocking on it.
Sun-woo scowled deeply and approached the window. Whoever it was, he intended to make them pay for playing such a prank.
Fling!
Sun-woo threw the window open.
Thud.
"Ouch!"
A short cry of pain followed the opening of the window. Startled, Sun-woo looked outside. There, hanging from the roof, was Seol-hyang.
"Uuuugh..."
She looked at Sun-woo with a tearful face.
"Lady Seol?"
"Eueue... how could you just throw the window open like that...?" Seol-hyang said, looking at him reproachfully.
"First, come inside," Sun-woo said, quickly stepping back. He couldn't just leave her hanging there.
Whoosh. Tap.
As Sun-woo moved back, Seol-hyang swung her body and leaped into the room.
"Thanks," she said, giving him a slight smile.
"What brings you here?" Sun-woo asked.
"To duel!" she replied, her eyes sparkling.
"But why through the window?" Sun-woo asked, his face full of doubt. Why use the window when there was a perfectly good door? She wasn't a thief.
"I had to sneak out," Seol-hyang explained as if it were no big deal.
Ever since her argument with Bulsok, the woman’s surveillance had become increasingly strict. Seol-hyang had tried to visit Sun-woo several times, but Bulsok’s watchful eye had denied her the chance. For days, she hadn't been able to find a moment alone with him.
But today, a golden opportunity had arrived. At the inn they stopped at today, she had been assigned a separate room from Bulsok. Normally, they would have shared, but Seol-hyang had paid extra for a private room. This allowed her to escape Bulsok’s gaze and reach Sun-woo’s room via the window.
"Won't you get caught?" Sun-woo asked.
"It’s fine. I locked the door and spent the whole day acting like I was exhausted," she said with a bright, confident smile.
"Hah."
Sun-woo marveled at her meticulousness. She had been acting all day just to escape? He couldn't help but be impressed.
"So, Brother..." Seol-hyang looked at him. "Let's go duel now."
"There probably isn't a suitable place nearby," Sun-woo pointed out.
"I spotted an empty lot near the village entrance. It’s far enough from the inn that we won't be discovered," Seol-hyang said, her eyes gleaming.
Nod.
Meeting her gaze, Sun-woo gave a small nod. He was a bit tired, but he didn't want to turn her away after she had gone to such lengths to find him.
At his consent, Seol-hyang beamed.
*
BOOM!
A massive explosion rang out.
Whoosh!
Along with the roar, Seol-hyang’s body was sent flying through the air.
Flip!
Mid-air, she quickly twisted her body.
Thud!
She performed the Thousand-Catty Press and landed firmly on the ground.
"Haah... haah... haah..."
Upon landing, Seol-hyang dropped her head and began to pant heavily. She was exhausted from the relentless exchange that hadn't given her a moment to breathe.
"Rotating your body to reduce the impact was good. But using the Thousand-Catty Press was a mistake. You should have increased the distance to regroup."
A calm voice drifted from ahead.
"Haah... haah..."
Seol-hyang caught her breath and looked forward. There stood Sun-woo, holding his sword with perfect composure.
"Haah... haah... wouldn't it... haah... be better to... haah... keep the pressure on as fast as possible?" she asked between gasps.
"You're exhausted right now. Regrouping is a much better decision than trying to force an opening," Sun-woo replied calmly.
"Whew... whew... it’s not easy," she said, looking at him.
"Shall we take a short break?"
"Just for half a kaku (approx. 15 mins)."
She gave a short reply and began to slowly regulate her breathing. Then, she started to circulate the Peerless Golden Light Divine Art.
Wuuuuuuuung.
The Peerless Golden Light Qi settled in her Dantian began to spread through her acupoints and fine meridians. Soon, a brilliant radiance began to emanate from her body.
Sun-woo squinted slightly at the dazzling light. It felt like the glow was even more intense than before.
'She’s a monster,' Sun-woo marveled inwardly.
It was because of Seol-hyang’s absurd rate of progress. How could she make everything she learned her own so instantly? He knew she was gifted, but he hadn't imagined her talent would be this overwhelming.
Though it had been a short spar, she was incomparably stronger than when they first met. At first, she had been clumsy in actual combat, but now, she wouldn't look out of place being called a true martial artist.
"Phew."
Seol-hyang let out a long breath. She felt her body had recovered to some extent.
"Let's go again."
Feeling restored, she looked at Sun-woo and spoke.
Sun-woo gave a light smile. Most people would have considered giving up after being knocked around like that, but she showed no such sign. He thought that despite her usually flighty appearance, when it came to martial arts, she possessed the heart of a true warrior.
Swish!
"This time, I'm coming to you."
With those words, Sun-woo charged at her.
Boom!
In an instant, Sun-woo was right in front of her. He swung his sword immediately.
Screeeech!
The sword tore through the air with a terrifying sound. Seol-hyang quickly formed a golden Sword Astral. She raised her blade to meet his.
CLANG!
Before long, their Sword Astrals collided, and a thunderous roar echoed through the clearing.
"Impressive."
Sun-woo spoke as he looked at Seol-hyang, who had blocked his strike. That blow had certainly contained power beyond the Mid-Stage of the Super-Peak Realm. And yet, she had withstood it.
It was proof that, at least in terms of raw power, she was approaching the Upper Stage.
A deep smile formed on Sun-woo’s lips.