191
Chapter 191: I Respect Your Choice
"Sword Immortal. Come forth."
At Heukcheon's call, Sword Immortal straightened the front of his dobok with a touch. Calmly adjusting his attire and gripping his scabbard, an air of solemnity emanated from him.
"You just fought—are you alright? Perhaps you should rest a little."
"I’m fine. Now is the perfect time."
To Mu Hwi’s eyes, it seemed so. Heukcheon’s breathing was no different now than when he had been sitting on the rock.
"Very well."
Sword Immortal nodded at Mu Hwi while locking eyes with him.
'Watch closely.'
Sword Immortal stood up, meeting Heukcheon atop Chaoyang Peak. Heukcheon’s black robes contrasted starkly with Sword Immortal’s white dobok.
Heukcheon gazed at Sword Immortal’s Ancient Pine-Patterned Sword.
"A fine sword. Even sheathed, its presence is unmistakable. Even though its edge has long been sealed."
Sword Immortal gently stroked the faded scabbard.
"I received this sword when I was just thirty. Over a hundred years have passed since then."
"It may not compare to your Ancient Pine-Patterned Sword, but..."
Heukcheon clenched his hand toward the surrounding darkness. As he pulled back, the darkness stretched out like a blade. From it, Heukcheon drew a demonic sword (mageom).
"You intend to use a sword?"
"My opponent is the Sword Immortal, after all."
Sword Immortal let out a hollow laugh.
"From what I saw earlier against the Palace Lord, you seem skilled with a spear as well. Just how many weapons have you mastered?"
"I can handle most. Back when you were called the Azure Cloud Sword, I dabbled in exotic weapons too—though none were particularly interesting."
At those words, Sword Immortal’s lips tightened.
Azure Cloud Sword—his epithet during his later years. Just how long had this man endured?
"Impressive."
Sword Immortal gripped his scabbard and slowly drew his sword.
A well-forged weapon does not weaken with time—it gains spirit. As the Ancient Pine-Patterned Sword left its sheath, it emitted an unusually brilliant gleam. Facing Heukcheon’s demonic sword, its radiance grew even brighter. Noticing this, Heukcheon slightly raised the tip of his blade.
As tension gathered at their feet, a flash of black and white crossed the air.
Kwaaaang!
Amid the deafening clash, the two swordsmen had already exchanged dozens of strikes.
Heukcheon’s swordsmanship was unfathomable.
One moment, he wielded the subtlety of a heavy sword, the next, the fluidity of a phantom blade, then the piercing speed of a rapier. He blended multiple sword styles into a single motion or abruptly switched between entirely different techniques.
Yet, against the flow of Sword Immortal’s arcs, the storm of strikes failed to manifest their full power.
Sword Immortal observed the Ancient Pine-Patterned Sword, bending precariously.
'Not a single flaw.'
Had there been even a slight opening, he would have severed the flow. But he found none.
Deflecting Heukcheon’s strikes, Sword Immortal realized anew: the man before him was truly a mad demon with martial obsession.
Jjeoreong!
Not a single clash was simple. Heukcheon read the trajectories of the Taiji Wisdom Sword and avoided direct engagements, scattering his attacks. Sword Immortal, anticipating this, boldly extended his blade in a straight line, suppressing Heukcheon’s attempts.
Meanwhile, invisible swords clashed and shattered around them, creating shockwaves.
Even after deflecting lightning-fast strikes, Sword Immortal was forced back a step. The demonic sword descended upon his head.
With his retreating left foot, Sword Immortal drew a small circle, while the Ancient Pine-Patterned Sword carved a large one.
Great Origin Shield Form.
The overlapping circles spun in harmony, deflecting all seventeen strikes aimed precisely at Sword Immortal’s retreating form.
Heukcheon sighed in admiration.
Kwaakakakang!
The deflected strikes ravaged the landscape behind Sword Immortal, each carrying the force of a supreme master’s technique.
"Magnificent!"
Heukcheon’s movements accelerated. The number of strikes surged past a hundred in a single breath, evoking the feeling of facing a natural disaster.
The shockwaves from their clashes coalesced into a massive vortex, swirling around them like a storm atop Chaoyang Peak.
'Even calling him a Half-Immortal would be an understatement.'
The more they fought, the more Sword Immortal felt awe at Heukcheon’s prowess—as if he alone stood in a realm beyond, wielding martial arts untethered.
Each of Heukcheon’s strikes carried a demonic allure that crushed the will of those who faced them.
But Sword Immortal was different.
Loosening his grip slightly, he held the Ancient Pine-Patterned Sword with ease.
'All that remains is to display the sword I’ve honed without regret.'
The Ancient Pine-Patterned Sword and the demonic sword crossed in an X, the impact forcing both back.
Heukcheon retreated half a step; Sword Immortal, three, staggering before steadying himself with the Je Woon Jong stance.
The Ancient Pine-Patterned Sword tilted forward, two opposing energies surging—Yin-Yang Qi of the Yang Ui Singong (Divine Sunlight Energy).
Black and white energies coiled around the blade.
Sword Immortal raised his head.
Heukcheon’s strikes multiplied, weaving through the air like a towering mountain.
"Great Peak Annihilation—the technique that witnessed the Sword King’s final moments."
Even as the air trembled, Heukcheon’s voice rang clear.
The mountain of sword energy collapsed toward Sword Immortal like an avalanche.
"Majestic."
Sword Immortal’s beard quivered perilously.
Before the overwhelming fusion of martial principles, he felt insignificant.
Yet he stood firm. Mu Hwi clenched his fists.
The Ancient Pine-Patterned Sword thrust forward.
The two energies at its tip danced, forming concentric circles like ripples around a taiji symbol.
Taiji Ripple Logic.
Swahaa!
Like a flowing river, Heukcheon’s strikes parted harmlessly around Sword Immortal.
Then, Sword Immortal stepped forward.
Oong!
Chaoyang Peak trembled.
The harmonized Yin-Yang Qi clashed violently, transforming the Taegeuk Hyeggeom’s flow.
Graceful arcs turned domineering. Sword Immortal’s sleeves fluttered wildly as the Ancient Pine-Patterned Sword relentlessly split Heukcheon’s sword energy.
Kwakakang!
The sheer force of the Yin-Yang collision forced even Heukcheon into defense.
Yet, delighted, Heukcheon intensified his assault, pushing Sword Immortal’s Taegeuk Hyeggeom to its limits.
Sword Immortal adjusted his stance.
"Taiji True Flow—the technique that beheaded the Extreme Thirst Demon Star forty years ago."
The Ancient Pine-Patterned Sword moved as if time had slowed.
Strikes meant for Sword Immortal dissipated before reaching him, as though nothing could hinder him now.
In the sword’s wake, trails like meteor tails formed—beautiful curves glowing with Yin-Yang radiance, converging into taiji symbols.
Harmonious taiji.
Conflicted taiji.
Taiji embodies the principles of all creation—harmony and conflict alike.
Countless taiji manifested at the Ancient Pine-Patterned Sword tip. Heukcheon narrowed his eyes.
"A sword that encapsulates the pinnacle of the world."
The taiji symbols in the air converged onto the blade, culminating in a single, ordinary strike—a stroke both bright and dark, serene and violent.
Taegeuk Jinryu.
Facing the pure Yin-Yang sword light, Heukcheon raised his demonic sword diagonally.
"If not the Sword Immortal, who else could wield such a sword?"
The slow thrust unleashed an endless void of darkness.
Ten Thousand Li in a Night.
Darkness clashed with the Yin-Yang light.
After a moment of struggle, only darkness remained.
Chaoyang Peak was engulfed. When it cleared, Heukcheon and Sword Immortal stood facing each other.
Paseuk!
Sword Immortal weakly lowered the Ancient Pine-Patterned Sword. Cracks spread from the hilt, and the sword crumbled into dust.
Sword Immortal flexed his empty hand, watching the remnants scatter in the wind.
"I’ve lost."
"Sword Immortal, I salute you. It’s been so long since I’ve been injured, I’d forgotten the feeling. Your sword truly touched the realm of immortality. A little further, and you might have glimpsed the Natural Realm."
Heukcheon glanced down at Sword Immortal’s dantian.
"Is it shattered?"
"Not completely. Cracked would be more accurate."
Mu Hwi and Kang Ho-baek’s faces hardened.
"I fully intended to kill you. Il Ya Man Ri should have sufficed. Yet you endured. You’re the first I’ve failed to kill despite trying."
After a pause, Heukcheon continued.
"It’s a shame to end this pleasure here. The outcome is predictable now."
He looked at Mu Hwi and Kang Ho-baek.
"Victors—Sword Saint and Kang Ho-baek. Join me. Sword Immortal, this is my final proposal for the Hwasan Sword Debate."
Sword Immortal shook his head after a moment.
"I refuse. It’s pointless."
"Why?"
"I’ve crossed swords with you and confirmed the gap. What use is a siege? Even if there were a chance, three against one is absurd. The Hwasan Sword Debate is a stage for righteousness."
He dispersed the demonic sword into darkness.
"So you’ll give up and let everyone die?"
Sword Immortal shook his head again.
"Regardless of the outcome, I want the Hwasan Sword Debate to remain a stage of righteousness. Thus, only Mu Hwi shall face you."
As Heukcheon frowned, Sword Immortal touched his dantian.
"My energy will return to nature in time. I’ll pass all I have to Mu Hwi and witness the debate’s conclusion."
Even the other supreme masters—and Heukcheon—were speechless.
"Sword Immortal, even with a cracked dantian, someone of your level could hold on for at least five years. Yet you choose to embrace death now?"
Sword Immortal had lived over a hundred and thirty years—his longevity sustained by his energy. Without it, death could come at any moment.
"I’m not accepting death. Passing everything to the next generation—this is how righteousness grows. I challenge you again, in righteousness’s name."
Sword Immortal smiled brightly.
Heukcheon closed his eyes.
"The clash of righteousness and demonry..."
Decision made, Heukcheon looked at Sword Immortal and Mu Hwi.
"I respect your choice. You’ve earned that right. We’ll meet in three days. Then, we’ll see the end of the Hwasan Sword Debate."
Darkness surged around Heukcheon, swallowing him. Only the other masters remained on Chaoyang Peak.
Silence fell.