Chapter 650: Establishing a New Sword
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 650: Establishing a New Sword
The training ground.
"What brings you to call for me?"
Ok-ryeong, a peerless beauty dressed in pristine white robes, asked Sun-woo with a look of curiosity. She wondered about his intentions for calling her so suddenly.
"I have something to show you."
Sun-woo replied with a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Something to show me?"
Ok-ryeong tilted her head. She couldn't even begin to guess what it might be.
Whirrr!
As soon as she finished speaking, Sun-woo unfastened the Dragon Tail Soft Sword wrapped around his waist. He then began to circulate his internal energy using the Yin-Yang Harmony Divine Art.
The once-supple Dragon Tail Soft Sword began to straighten, becoming as rigid as a rod.
"The... the murderous aura!?"
Ok-ryeong’s expression turned to one of bewilderment. Normally, due to the influence of the Killing Sword, Sun-woo would radiate a terrifying murderous aura whenever he drew his sword and circulated his energy.
But now, that aura was completely gone. It was only natural for her to be stunned.
"Did you... did you abandon the Killing Sword?" Ok-ryeong asked, her voice trembling slightly.
There was only one thing that could explain the total absence of that aura: he had discarded the path of the Killing Sword.
"I’ve just found a slightly different direction."
"A different direction?"
Ok-ryeong pressed him, her face still clouded with confusion. She clearly didn't understand what he meant.
"Watch closely."
Sun-woo slowly raised the Dragon Tail Soft Sword. Then, he began to execute the Killing Method.
Swoooooosh!
Suddenly, an astronomical amount of murderous aura exploded outward.
"Ugh!"
Exposed to the sheer weight of it, Ok-ryeong let out a soft groan. The aura was so dense and heavy that it felt like an immense physical pressure crushing down on her.
Then, Sun-woo adjusted his technique. The explosive aura that had been erupting from his body began to rapidly seep into the raised Dragon Tail Soft Sword.
Before long, the blade—once a proud, brilliant white—was dyed in a pitch-black, ink-colored hue. The ink-colored sword revealed its complete form, radiating an aura of absolute ferocity.
"...The Killing Sword."
Ok-ryeong spoke, her eyes fixed tensely on the black blade.
Shring!
She immediately drew her own sword. She was preparing herself in case Sun-woo was consumed by bloodlust once again.
"There's no need to be tense, Ok-ryeong," Sun-woo said, smiling gently at her.
"How... how is this possible!?"
Ok-ryeong stared at him in shock. Despite the fact that he was radiating a massive, vicious murderous aura, Sun-woo appeared perfectly composed. There was no sign of him being swallowed by the killing intent as he had been in the past.
She couldn't fathom it. How could such a thing be possible?
"I’ve become able to dominate the aura."
He answered her question in a calm, steady tone.
"You... dominate it!?"
Ok-ryeong asked again, her expression still one of disbelief.
"Yeah. Actually, the thing is..."
Looking at the bewildered Ok-ryeong, Sun-woo began to briefly explain what had happened. He told her about how he had sought out the captive Salhon to find a way to avoid being consumed by the aura, how he had threatened Salhon to extract his Killing Method, and how he had used that method to gain control over his own killing intent. He shared the entire story with her without leaving anything out.
"To think... such a thing..."
After hearing the full story, Ok-ryeong looked stunned. She had never imagined that Sun-woo would be able to control such a dense mass of murderous aura at will. Generally, such an aura was a dangerous energy that eroded the mind and corrupted a martial artist. To think he had completely subjugated such a perilous force was beyond her imagination.
"Then... does this mean you can use the Killing Sword... without any risk?" Ok-ryeong asked curiously.
"Most likely. So far, I don't feel the aura trying to consume me at all."
Sun-woo continued in a calm voice. Even with the Killing Sword manifested, he didn't feel his mind slipping. It seemed that subjugating the aura through the Killing Method was the key factor.
"I can hardly believe it."
Ok-ryeong spoke with a look of wonder. Previously, Sun-woo had always felt precarious, like a sandcastle that might crumble at any moment. But now, he felt like an impregnable fortress wall. He felt stable, solid, and reliable.
She couldn't believe how much he had changed in just a few days—to the point of actually dominating the murderous aura.
"I won't be devoured by it anymore," Sun-woo said, looking at her. "So, you don't have to worry anymore."
"...Sun-woo."
"I'm sorry... I made you worry a lot, didn't I?"
Sun-woo apologized to her. He knew how much she must have been fretting over him.
"No... I... I always believed you could do it, Sun-woo."
Ok-ryeong looked at him with eyes full of trust. There wasn't a single shred of doubt in her gaze.
"............"
Meeting that gaze, Sun-woo felt a deep sense of fulfillment welling up from within. He could feel her absolute, unwavering trust.
Men are, by nature, creatures that crave recognition. They are the kind of beings who can find happiness and fulfillment simply by knowing that someone acknowledges and trusts them.
Sun-woo was happy right now. He could feel that this lovely woman, Ok-ryeong, truly recognized and trusted him.
She was precious to him. This woman who acknowledged him. This woman who trusted him without a hint of doubt. He wanted to protect her. No matter what storms might come, he wanted to keep her safe.
Vrooooooom!
As if responding to his heart, the black-dyed Killing Sword began to vibrate subtly. Then, the color began to fade.
From a pitch-black ink to a cinder-like gray.
From a cinder-like gray to a snow-white light.
And then, the sword, now turned pure white, began to shine brilliantly.
Like a sun that held all the light in the world.
"Sun... Sun-woo... what on earth is..."
Ok-ryeong’s eyes went wide with shock. Sun-woo’s sword had transformed. The murderous intent within the massive aura concentrated in his blade vanished in an instant. In its place, only a profound energy of life remained within the sword.
Sun-woo slowly turned his gaze to the sword that was shining like the sun. He knew. He knew that this glowing blade was the physical manifestation of his desire to protect. It was the "sword that protects" that he had vowed to pursue.
"The sword that protects, the Protective Sword."
Sun-woo spoke in a quiet tone.
"It seems I’ve gained another sword besides the Killing Sword."
A deep smile spread across Sun-woo’s face. Ok-ryeong stared at him, her face full of questions.
"Another sword!?" she asked back, her expression one of pure bewilderment.
"The feeling is completely different from the Killing Sword," Sun-woo replied calmly. "There's no intent to kill at all."
He looked at the brilliantly shining blade. It was different from the Killing Sword, which was a concentration of the singular desire to slay. Though the magnitude of power was similar, it existed on an entirely different plane.
"That's impossible," Ok-ryeong said, her face pale with shock.
A Heart Sword was the ultimate manifestation of martial arts that a warrior could only hope to achieve after a lifetime of pursuit. How could someone establish two such Heart Swords? It was an unprecedented event, something that had never happened before. She simply couldn't believe it.
"I think it's impossible too," Sun-woo nodded, agreeing with her.
Even to him, it felt absurd. A Heart Sword was the final realization of a martial artist's path. And now he had two. This was a feat even Lee Jae-won, who was practically dripping with plot armor, had never managed to achieve.
"Truly... you are an impossible man, Sun-woo."
"To be honest, I'm a bit taken aback myself. I didn't expect to gain a new Heart Sword this way."
"...What kind of sword is the Protective Sword?" Ok-ryeong asked, her curiosity piqued. She wanted to know about this new Heart Sword he had achieved after casting aside his murderous intent.
"A sword that protects."
Sun-woo said the first thing that came to his mind.
"A sword that protects?"
"Yeah."
"Is that all?" Ok-ryeong asked, looking puzzled.
"That's the only thing I can think of right now," Sun-woo said, looking a bit embarrassed. He wanted to give a more grand explanation, but nothing else came to mind. He didn't even know what specific powers it possessed yet. All he could say was that it was a sword meant for protection.
"Would you like to spar?" Ok-ryeong suggested.
"A spar?"
"Yes. Wouldn't it be better to test its power?"
"Won't it be dangerous?" Sun-woo asked, his face clouded with concern.
It was a sword whose properties he didn't yet understand. He was worried he might accidentally hurt her.
"It will be fine," Ok-ryeong said with a bright smile, sensing his concern. "You just said it yourself, Sun-woo. It's a sword that protects."
"......That's true."
"If it's a sword manifested from the will to protect, it won't hurt me."
Ok-ryeong looked at Sun-woo with eyes full of conviction. It was a straight, honest gaze without a trace of doubt.
"And you know, don't you? I'm not so fragile that I'll be hurt easily."
Ok-ryeong continued, her fighting spirit surging from her entire body. She was full of trust in Sun-woo and confidence in herself.
"......Right. You aren't a fragile woman."
Sun-woo eventually nodded. She wasn't weak. It seemed his protective instincts had gotten ahead of him again.
"Then, I'll count on you."
"I'm in your hands, Sun-woo," Ok-ryeong replied with a radiant smile.
Sun-woo and Ok-ryeong stood facing each other, swords in hand. A certain solemnity hung in the eyes of both.
"We don't need a feeling-out process, do we?" Ok-ryeong asked calmly.
They had already gauged each other's abilities through a previous duel. Continuing to test the waters now would be a waste of time.
"Come at me with everything you've got," Sun-woo said, raising the brilliant Dragon Tail Soft Sword. "I'll take whatever you throw at me."
He looked at her with a steady, unwavering gaze.
"I really love it when you're this confident, Sun-woo."
Ok-ryeong gave a clear laugh and slowly lowered her sword. Then, she began to circulate her internal energy to its absolute peak.
Whoosh!
A brilliant light began to envelop her body. That light then transferred to her sword, making it shine blindingly.
It was her Heart Sword.
The Light Sword.
"Be careful, Sun-woo."
Tap!
With those words, she kicked off the ground. Her figure vanished instantly.
Vrooooom!
Seeing this, Sun-woo quickly spread out his energy sense. He intended to pinpoint Ok-ryeong's location now that she had disappeared from his sight.
'Left.'
He immediately turned to the left and swung his sword. He could feel her presence right there.
K-Boom!
Sun-woo’s Protective Sword and Ok-ryeong’s Light Sword collided with a thunderous roar. The two began to push against each other.
'It's solid.'
Ok-ryeong’s first impression upon clashing with the Protective Sword was its sheer sturdiness. The Protective Sword was incredibly firm—so much so that her Light Sword, backed by her immense strength, couldn't budge it. In fact, she was the one being pushed back.
'I need to disengage.'
Ok-ryeong quickly prepared to pull back. If they stayed locked like this, she was certain to be overwhelmed.
But just as she was about to strike and retreat, something strange happened.
Crumble...
Sun-woo’s Protective Sword began to cut right through Ok-ryeong’s Light Sword.
'Wh-what!?'
Ok-ryeong’s face filled with shock. Her sword, manifested from her very will, was beginning to disintegrate.
Crumble!
In an instant, the Light Sword was completely shattered. Sun-woo’s Protective Sword continued its path, slicing right through Ok-ryeong’s body.
Ok-ryeong squeezed her eyes shut. She expected a wave of horrific pain to assault her entire body.
But...
No matter how long she waited, there was no pain.
Ok-ryeong slowly opened her eyes. She looked down at the spot where she had been struck.
And there it was. Her body, without a single scratch or mark.
"Wh-what!?"
Ok-ryeong’s eyes widened. She was utterly bewildered by this bizarre turn of events. She looked at Sun-woo with a hollow, stunned expression.
"How was it?"
A satisfied smile was etched on Sun-woo’s lips.