Chapter 636: The Demonic Power of the Sword
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 636: The Demonic Power of the Sword
"Stupid! Moron! Mutt! Bastard!"
Yorang began to curse Sun-woo incessantly.
Her resentment toward him had soared ever since he handed her over to Geum Jeok-hwa. How could he betray her like this?
"Lady Yorang, here are the documents for approval."
Thud.
At that moment, Tang Gam, a member of the Jaegyeong Pavilion, placed a stack of papers on Yorang’s desk.
"…Is it really this much?"
Yorang spoke, staring at the mountain of documents on her desk with a look of utter exhaustion. It wasn't just a lot; it was far too much. It was enough to make her feel physically ill.
"Did you not run away for two days? I believe this amount is actually quite light, all things considered," Tang Gam replied in a flat tone.
Yorang had spent two days dodging her duties. A mountain of work was only natural.
"Ugh… uuuugh…"
Yorang let out a groan of pure distaste. Irritation flared within her.
That jerk!
Grit.
Yorang began to grind her teeth. Her anger toward Sun-woo for snitching on her boiled over. He could have just looked the other way, but no, he had to point her out and get her caught. How could she not be furious?
Jang… Sun… woo! Just you wait…
Yorang’s eyes flashed with a murderous glint. She was planning to get her revenge on him someday.
Thud.
Suddenly, another heavy sound echoed as something slammed onto her desk. Startled, Yorang’s eyes widened as she looked up.
There, she saw another massive pile of documents, no smaller than the one Tang Gam had brought.
"Wh-what is… this…?" Yorang asked, her gaze filled with disbelief.
"This is an addition," Geum Jeok-hwa said nonchalantly as she set the stack down. "Please finish it by the end of the day."
She looked at Yorang, her tone final.
"Waaaaah! Noooooo!"
Yorang let out a tearful wail. She seemed unable to accept this desperate reality. Regardless of her protests, Geum Jeok-hwa continued to drive her to work, and as a result, Yorang eventually managed to successfully complete the month-end settlement.
It was a feat achieved by a spiritual being pushing herself to her absolute limits.
*
The Training Ground.
Swish!
Sun-woo drew the Dragon Tail Soft Sword from his waist. The supple blade revealed its form.
It’s been a while.
Holding the Dragon Tail Soft Sword, Sun-woo slowly admired its appearance. Its elegant shape drooped toward the ground. Its sharpness was evident at a glance. Even the mystery of the dragon embossed on the flat of the blade was captivating.
It’s magnificent.
Its beauty was enough to draw an involuntary exclamation. Sun-woo marveled at the sword’s grace once again. Drawing it after so long brought back a flood of emotions.
I’m sorry.
Stroke, stroke.
Sun-woo apologized as he stroked the blade a couple of times. Since cutting off Lee Jae-won’s arm, he hadn't properly drawn the sword, using his seclusion as an excuse. He felt he had mistreated a treasure that was peerless in this world.
I’ll let you run wild today.
Sun-woo’s eyes sparkled. He intended to swing the sword with enough vigor to make up for his past neglect.
Woooooooong.
Having made his decision, Sun-woo began to circulate the Yin-Yang Harmony Divine Art.
Ssssss.
Soon, the nature qi drifting around the training ground began to be slowly absorbed into Sun-woo’s body. Before long, his empty Dantian began to fill. At first, it was a mere ten percent of its capacity.
However, as time passed, the speed of the intake accelerated. Soon, internal energy filled nearly fifty percent of his Dantian. Shortly after, the once-empty vessel was completely filled. His entire body was brimming with nature qi.
Refine!
Once his body was full of nature qi, Sun-woo began to slowly refine that energy—transforming the pure essence into the greatest power in the world.
Following the mnemonics of the Yin-Yang Harmony Divine Art, the nature qi moved slowly, circulating through his meridians and fine meridians in a full circulation before returning to the Dantian. With each completed cycle, the nature qi was refined into Yin-Yang Harmony Qi.
Woooooooong.
First, ten percent. Then thirty. Fifty… seventy… ninety.
And finally, one hundred percent.
Sun-woo’s vast Dantian was now overflowing with energy. The refined Yin-Yang Harmony Qi had completely filled the void.
Smirk.
A deep smile spread across Sun-woo’s face. The sensation of his Dantian being full made him feel naturally invigorated. He felt a surge of exhilaration, as if he could accomplish anything.
Sun-woo slowly raised the Dragon Tail Soft Sword.
Woooooooong.
He immediately channeled his internal energy into the blade.
Snap!
The once-limp Dragon Tail Soft Sword straightened into a rigid, piercing line.
Whoosh!
Sun-woo swung the sword lightly through the air.
Screeeeeech!
A vicious sound of the air being torn apart reached his ears.
It’s gotten heavier.
Sun-woo felt a sense of wonder. His sword felt significantly weightier. That wasn't all.
Whoosh!
Screeeeeech!
Sun-woo swung the sword lightly once more. Again, that same sinister sound echoed out.
…It’s even become more vicious.
Sun-woo realized it then. A simple, light swing now carried both weight and malice. He had definitely become stronger; he was certain of that. But in proportion to that strength, he had become more sinister.
In other words, his killing intent had deepened. He couldn't help but find it strange. He hadn't intended to project any murderous aura, yet it followed his movements naturally. How could this be?
Is it because of the influence of the Killing Sword?
A month ago, Sun-woo had forged a Sword of the Mind. Driven by the single-minded determination to kill Lee Jae-won, he had perfected a sword meant for slaughter. It seemed the influence of that intent remained. Even a light swing was now stained with killing intent.
"Your killing intent is quite thick."
A clear, refined voice suddenly reached Sun-woo’s ears.
Huh?!
Startled, Sun-woo quickly turned toward the source of the voice. There, he saw a woman watching him with a questioning expression.
She had luxurious, ink-colored hair like obsidian. Her gentle eyes were filled with compassion. Her nose was perfectly straight, and her lips were as pink as a lotus flower. Dressed in a snow-white martial arts uniform, she was a beautiful woman who naturally exuded an aura of elegance and grace.
"Ok-ryeong!?"
Sun-woo looked bewildered. Even though he had reached the Profound Realm, he hadn't sensed her approach at all. How was that possible?
"Did I disturb you?"
"No, not at all. Don't be silly."
Sun-woo shook his head from side to side. Disturbed? Far from it. In fact, this was exactly when he needed her help.
"Ok-ryeong."
Sun-woo called out to his beloved.
"Yes, please speak."
"Was the killing intent really that thick?"
"Yes. It was so thick it was almost visible to the eye," Ok-ryeong replied with a nod.
The killing intent she felt from Sun-woo had manifested so strongly it was nearly tangible—much like the aura carried by the most vicious leaders of the Unorthodox Faction.
"........."
He hadn't known. He knew the sword carried killing intent, but he hadn't imagined it had become so dense it was visible.
"Did something happen at the Cheonmu Alliance?" Ok-ryeong asked, her eyes filled with concern. She worried that something might have happened to him.
"…I think it’s because of the Sword of the Mind," Sun-woo answered calmly.
"The Sword of the Mind?" Ok-ryeong asked, puzzled.
"…Actually, when I faced Lee Jae-won, I forged a Sword of the Mind…" Sun-woo continued in a steady tone.
"What kind of sword did you forge, Sun-woo?" Ok-ryeong asked, her eyes shimmering with curiosity.
To forge a heart-sword was, in other words, to realize one's ultimate pursuit. Its form would inevitably change depending on the purpose behind it. Thus, she was curious. What kind of sword had her beloved husband forged? What kind of intent was it that caused even a light swing to reek of slaughter?
"…A Killing Sword."
Sun-woo spoke with a somber expression. "I forged a sword that can kill whenever my heart desires."
"…A Killing Sword?" Ok-ryeong’s expression turned grave upon hearing his words.
"…Yeah."
"It doesn't suit you," she said firmly. "That kind of sword does not suit you at all."
Ok-ryeong gazed at Sun-woo with sad eyes. It didn't fit him. Sun-woo wasn't a blood-crazed demon. He wasn't a monster who took pleasure in hurting others. He was just an ordinary man. A man who empathized with others' pain, comforted them in their sorrow, and shared emotions like anyone else.
That was why a Killing Sword—a blade meant only to wound and destroy—did not suit him.
"It seems we have a difference of opinion," Sun-woo said, shaking his head. "I think it’s actually quite good."
His expression turned resolute. "No, I actually like it. With this sword, I feel like I can achieve anything."
Sun-woo stared at the bloodthirsty blade with shimmering eyes. With this very sword, he had cut down Lee Jae-won—the man called the World's Greatest Martial Artist and the protagonist of the novel. The Killing Sword was the ultimate weapon. In this irrational and dangerous world, it was the best tool to protect himself and those he held dear.
In a way, it might be the sword that best fit his original goal of a "Protecting Sword." By killing everything that posed a threat, he could protect everyone. So how could she say this sword didn't suit him?
It was nonsensical. Ok-ryeong was always wise and discerning, but this was one time he couldn't agree with her.
"No, Sun-woo," Ok-ryeong said, her face etched with worry. "If you pursue the Killing Sword, you will certainly gain immense power. In a sense, you could say you are purely pursuing the original purpose of a sword."
She continued slowly, her voice calm. "But if you only pursue that purpose and swing a sword meant only for killing, it will eventually erode your heart."
It was an undeniable fact that the essence of a sword was to cut and kill. It was, after all, a tool created for that very purpose. But that didn't mean the person wielding the sword had to become a tool as well. To become a tool meant, in the end, losing one's human emotions.
"No, that’s not true. Ok-ryeong, as long as I keep my wits about me, that will never happen. I can guarantee it!"
Sun-woo spoke with confidence. He was sure of himself. Who was he? Was he not the new protagonist who had inherited the Plot Armor? There was no way someone like him would be consumed by killing intent. His mental defenses were surely ironclad.
"Sun-woo, there is no such thing as 'never' in this world."
Ok-ryeong slowly shook her head. When it came to human matters, nothing was absolute. Because humans are inherently imperfect beings, nothing can be guaranteed with absolute certainty.
A person who seems like they will never break can have their spirit crushed in an instant and become a shell of themselves. A person who seems like they would never commit a crime can fall to a sticky temptation and become a criminal in a heartbeat. That is why one must always be cautious, vigilant, and careful. One must never be overconfident.
The moment of absolute certainty is often the most dangerous.
To Ok-ryeong, Sun-woo’s current state looked exactly like that. He was showing a blind faith in the Killing Sword. It was dangerously high. She feared that Sun-woo would be reduced to a mere tool for cutting. She feared he would live his life as nothing more than a blade.
"Do you not trust me?" Sun-woo asked, his expression clouded with disappointment.
Ok-ryeong had always given him her blind trust. Whether he caused trouble or added more women to his circle, she had always smiled and looked at him with eyes full of faith. To think that she didn't trust him now filled him with an indescribable sense of letdown.
"Of course I do. I trust you more than anyone else in this world," Ok-ryeong replied, shaking her head.
"Then why are you talking as if you can't believe in me… am I really that untrustworthy?"
"I trust you, Sun-woo, but I do not trust the demonic power of the sword."
Ok-ryeong looked at Sun-woo with a heavy, somber gaze.