Chapter 282: Pursue a Sword That Protects.
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 282: Pursue a Sword That Protects.
"What... what on earth do you mean by that!?"
Sun-woo stammered, utterly bewildered by the Sword Man’s shocking revelation.
If the man standing before him wasn't human, then what in the world was he?
"To be precise, it would be more accurate to say I have transcended humanity."
The Sword Man replied with a faint smile.
"Transcended!?"
"You know what the Profound Realm is called, don't you?"
"............The realm of the Half-Immortal."
"Hahaha, indeed you do."
The Sword Man let out a jovial laugh at Sun-woo’s answer.
"Wasn't that just a metaphor? A figure of speech to describe someone with the cultivation and strength so great it wouldn't be strange to call them half-divine!"
Sun-woo pressed on, his expression clouded with confusion.
He was genuinely flustered.
While it was true that the Profound Realm was referred to as the realm of the Half-Immortal, he had always believed it to be a poetic exaggeration. In a world where no one even knew if true immortals existed, how could anyone casually claim to be a Half-Immortal?
"It was no metaphor."
The smile vanished from the Sword Man’s face as he continued.
"The Profound Realm signifies that one has truly reached the state of a Half-Immortal."
"............."
Sun-woo fell silent. The sheer conviction in the Sword Man’s voice made it clear he wasn't joking.
"Then... when you say you aren't human...?"
"It means I am a Half-Immortal."
"But isn't a Half-Immortal still a stage reached by humans?" Sun-woo asked, still struggling to grasp the concept.
"It is a different concept entirely. One transcends humanity to become a being that can no longer be classified as human," the Sword Man explained calmly. "To be precise, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call such a being a 'human who is no longer human.'"
"I don't understand. I don't understand at all."
"What is it you don't understand?"
"To my eyes, you are human no matter how I look at you, Senior. You laugh when you're happy, and your expression hardens when you're serious. You act just like any other person. So how can you claim to be a different kind of existence?"
Sun-woo’s expression was grave.
He couldn't wrap his head around it. To him, the Sword Man felt more 'human' than anyone he had ever met. It made no sense for such a man to claim he wasn't human.
"I appreciate you seeing me that way. But unfortunately, too many things have changed for me to still call myself human."
"What kind of things...?"
"The first thing that changed was my emotions. Most of my feelings have withered away to a degree incomparable to when I was merely in the Transcendent Realm. I have become far more indifferent, far more detached."
The Sword Man’s expression turned somber.
"It was the same earlier, when we first encountered the missing people. Many felt pity and compassion, but I felt nothing. I simply accepted the objective fact that their limbs had been severed."
"That's impossible! You clearly enjoyed yourself when we clashed blades! You were the one who taught me about the competitive spirit! How can you say your emotions have withered?"
"I said most of my emotions have withered. I didn't say they were all gone. Of course, I still feel things. It's just that the outward expression of those emotions has become much more diminished."
"Then doesn't that just make you a cold-hearted human?"
"Well, do you think a being that feels only half the emotions they once did can still be called human?"
The Sword Man gave a short, dry laugh.
"The Profound Realm is one of the steps toward becoming a true immortal. Eventually, one casts aside all Five Desires and Seven Emotions. Naturally, one must go through the process of their emotions fading away."
He continued in a level tone.
"I believe the Profound Realm is the beginning of the process of shedding one's human skin. I am certain that once one finally reaches the Realm of Immortals, they will view humans as an entirely different species."
".............."
Sun-woo was speechless. This was a perspective he had never even imagined.
"The next thing that changed was my body."
"Your body?"
"Yes. It has become far too hard and sturdy to be called a fragile human frame. Much like a master of external arts. Can you imagine it? Reaching the state of Sword and Blade Immunity without even circulating internal energy. Furthermore, I've gained a transcendental recovery rate that can heal minor scratches in an instant. How can a being with such a monstrous body be called human?"
The Sword Man’s eyes gleamed as he looked at Sun-woo.
"..........."
Sun-woo remained silent, his mouth hanging open in shock.
Sword and Blade Immunity was a state that masters of external arts might eventually reach, but for masters of internal qigong who only practiced external arts as a supplement, it was a distant dream. Internal masters usually judged it more efficient to coat their bodies in internal energy rather than strengthening the physical body itself.
But to think that simply reaching the Profound Realm would transform the physical body into a state of Sword and Blade Immunity...
And to possess a recovery rate that could heal wounds in the blink of an eye.
It was impossible not to be stunned.
Sun-woo felt his mind racing. It felt as though he were witnessing a new evolution of humanity.
"Heh heh, perhaps I've given you too much of a headache."
The Sword Man chuckled as he watched Sun-woo.
"In any case, the Transcendent Realm represents the limit of human potential. And the Upper Stage of the Transcendent Realm can be said to be the very edge of that limit."
"So you're saying I've reached the highest peak a human can achieve?"
"Indeed. And to put it another way, it is the stage where one prepares for transcendence."
"Preparation for transcendence?"
"Yes. The method of reaching transcendence changes depending on the purpose you pursue."
The Sword Man smiled thinly.
"The purpose?"
"For example, in my case, I focused on a sword that could cut anything. A sword that, if I had the mind to, could sever any object in existence. In the process of pursuing that goal, I ascended to the Profound Realm and eventually gained the ultimate sword that can cut through anything."
"Are you talking about the Heart Sword?"
"Precisely. To reach transcendence, you must decide on a direction. You must define the ultimate purpose you seek."
The Sword Man’s voice was heavy with sincerity.
"I don't know. I don't have the slightest clue."
Sun-woo shook his head, his expression troubled. No matter how much he thought about it, nothing came to mind.
"Don't make it too difficult. What kind of sword do you pursue?"
".............."
Sun-woo turned the question over in his mind.
What was the sword he sought?
Was it a sword that could cut anything, like the Sword Man’s?
He shook his head. While being able to cut anything would be useful, it didn't feel like the path he truly desired.
Then, was it a sword that cuts only what it wishes to cut, like the Sword Emperor?
In the past, the Sword Emperor had demonstrated his own Heart Sword—though it was called an incomplete one. He had surpassed space itself to strike Sun-woo even through the Overlord Ghost-Face Armor. That was the result of pursuing a sword that cuts only its intended target.
Sun-woo considered if the Sword Emperor’s path was close to his own.
But again, he shook his head. A sword that could leap through space was incredibly alluring, but it wasn't what he was looking for.
It was difficult.
A sword was just a sword. What kind of 'purpose' was he supposed to find in it?
"What were you thinking when you first picked up a sword?"
".......I don't know."
"Think carefully. I'm sure you already know the answer."
"........."
Sun-woo sank into deep thought. He agonized over the question for a long time.
What was in his mind whenever he held a sword?
He thought back to the very first time he picked up a blade after falling into the world of this martial arts novel.
And then, he realized.
He knew exactly what kind of sword he pursued.
The first time he drew his sword, it was to protect his own life. He had drawn it to survive in this desperate world.
The next time he drew it, it was to protect Ok-ryeong. To save her from the brink of death, he had turned his blade against the Tang Clan.
The next time, it was to protect Yorang. To keep a foolish promise and save her from certain death, he had drawn his sword without hesitation.
Then, he had drawn it to protect the Tang Clan, where his precious people lived. To crush the schemes of the Hwangbo Clan that sought to swallow the Tangs, he had simply drawn his sword.
And then, it was to protect Tang Seo-yoon. To save the kidnapped girl, he had drawn his sword against Joo So-yang, the Heavenly Sword Empress.
Finally, Sun-woo understood.
He looked at the Sword Man and spoke slowly.
"A sword that protects."
His voice grew firm with conviction.
"When I first picked up a sword, I drew it with the heart to protect."
The Sword Man broke into a bright, satisfied smile.
"And has that heart ever wavered?"
"It has always been the same. I have always held my sword to protect something."
"Then the answer is clear. Pursue a sword that protects. An absolute sword that can safeguard your precious things, no matter who the opponent is."
"Do you think I can do it?" Sun-woo asked, a hint of anxiety in his voice.
"Well, it might be even more difficult than my sword, which simply cuts."
The Sword Man’s expression turned calm again.
"But I can be sure of one thing."
"What is it?"
"If you can reach that state, there will be no one in this world who can harm you."
The Sword Man looked at Sun-woo with a light smile.
Now that the direction was set, the achievement would be entirely up to him.
The Sword Man found himself looking forward to it. He wondered what form Sun-woo’s Heart Sword would eventually take.
*
Whooooooooosh!
"Fuck."
Ju Do-san, the Evil Demon, spat out a curse as a sudden Snow Wind blasted against him.
the weather in the North Sea was as fickle as a woman on her period. It seemed like every time he turned around, a blizzard would blow in and bury the world in white.
Irritation bubbled up from deep within him.
Since arriving at the North Sea Lake, he had searched every nook and cranny for Bukgung Yeon. But she was nowhere to be found.
Her absence filled him with a sense of crisis.
She was a woman who had mastered Ice Arts to the point of freezing the North Sea Lake, which was said to never freeze. If she wasn't at the lake, there was only one place she could be.
The North Sea Ice Palace.
She was undoubtedly going there to seek revenge against him and the demons of the Demon Troops, who had slaughtered the warriors of the Ice Palace twenty years ago and seized it for themselves.
The realization made him anxious. He knew the demons currently stationed at the palace wouldn't be able to handle her.
Driven by urgency, Ju Do-san quickly led his subordinates back toward the Ice Palace.
But the godforsaken Snow Wind kept blocking his path. He needed to return as fast as possible, yet the blizzard constantly hindered their progress.
"Unit Leader, I think we should rest here for today!" one of his subordinates shouted over the wind.
"Fuck off! We still have a hell of a long way to go! Are we supposed to stop every time the wind blows? Are you fucking stupid? Is that head of yours just for decoration?"
Ju Do-san showered the man with curses, blaming him for the delay.
"B-but if we move recklessly during a Snow Wind, we might lose our way!"
The subordinate stammered but stood his ground. He was right. The swirling blizzard was so fierce it blinded them and erased their tracks instantly. One wrong turn and they would be lost.
"Goddammit! That's why you're supposed to keep your eyes open! You're the scout, aren't you? Are you saying you can't find the path just because of a little wind?"
Ju Do-san’s voice rose in anger. He knew the subordinate was right, but if he didn't vent his frustration like this, he felt like he would lose his mind.
"We're pushing through! Don't talk back! If you open your mouth again, I'll blow your head off!"
Ju Do-san glared at the man, forcing his irrational demand.
"............."
The subordinate fell silent. He didn't know how to respond.
Anger flared within him. If they got lost, Ju Do-san would surely pin all the blame on him, yet here he was, making such an absurd demand.
"Why aren't you answering? Do you think I'm joking?"
When the subordinate didn't respond, Ju Do-san screamed, convinced he was being ignored.
".......I... I understand."
The subordinate barely managed to squeeze out an answer. He would die if they got lost, and he would die if he refused the order. If that was the case, it was better to die trying to find the way. At least he could avoid death for the moment.
With a face like he’d swallowed a pile of shit, the subordinate began to lead the way through the blizzard.
And Ju Do-san simply followed closely behind him.