Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Your Sword
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I steadied my breathing. Looked ahead.
Blood-soaked underground training hall. The results of my nightly training were scattered all around. To me, it was progress, but to anyone else, it was a sight perfectly suited for wildly mistaken assumptions.
And it would be the same for the First Demon.
"Explain yourself."
Her tone was somewhat cold. But I knew there was concern for me lingering at the end of it.
I sheathed the Ghost Sword Baekya. The bone-chilling frost gradually lifted.
Even so, my body didn't recover easily.
Baekya was peculiar in that it didn't just wield chill-it accumulated energy on its own. It moved as if it were cultivating a divine art itself, constantly writhing to take over my body.
The more I swung it, the worse it got. It was like being chased by an inborn genius catching up at a terrifying speed.
The moment I thought I'd suppressed it, it became even more dangerous.
Like just now, to the point where it stole my consciousness in an instant.
"I clearly told you. It's dangerous, and you mustn't overdo it. Do my words fall on deaf ears?"
"That's..."
"Then why ask for my guidance? If you're just going to do whatever you want, what's the point of anything I teach you?"
It wasn't just simple worry.
...She's angry.
I shook off the frozen blood from my skin. As the chill itself dissipated, Heavenly Tribulation's regenerative power surged back strongly.
A growl as if asking why I was tormenting myself. A sharp pain hit me for a moment, and I swallowed a groan that nearly escaped.
I leaped down from the training hall. Stood before the First Demon.
"I haven't crossed the line, First Demon."
"This isn't crossing the line? Do I look blind to you?"
"Even so, I didn't cross it. I merely walked the line itself."
"...What?"
What I had done was simple.
Even repeating the same training yielded progress. The First Demon's teachings were correct, and I felt myself advancing steadily with each passing day.
Ghost Spirit Step carried a weight as it extended, and my sword roared like striking lightning. It felt like it could cleave anyone in two, and the weight in my swinging body shook the air.
But it still felt insufficient.
I realized it was laughably inadequate for what I truly wanted to do.
"I know the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art grows stronger the more it dances on the edge of death, First Demon. The more of my own blood it tastes, the more intent fills the sword, and its weight changes based on what blood it has spilled."
I stroked Baekya.
"The Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art is struggle. The more you fight, the higher its realm climbs. I've endlessly honed my martial prowess alone... but something slumbers within the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art that practice alone can't awaken. Swinging the sword by myself wasn't enough."
"Do you think I don't know that?"
"Of course not."
I turned my head. Looked up at the training hall.
"At first, I swung the sword as you commanded, First Demon. I gained much, and my joy was great. My swings carried single-minded intent, and I felt pride in realms I couldn't have imagined before. When my blood surged, I lost myself in motion, battling Baekya all day long."
"......."
"But it still wasn't enough. No matter how much time I invested, the ghost sword wouldn't bend to my will. It's the same even now with all my effort. What a temperamental child-it grows more ferocious with each passing day. I might end up fighting it until the end of my life."
"So impatience set in? I clearly told you it's fine to advance slowly..."
"Impatience. You could call it that. But even so, I had to feel it. If I don't move when I need to, all the time I've invested might go to waste."
"...What do you mean?"
The training hall was filthy. It was the trace of my battle with Baekya.
Traces of swinging the sword one more time after pushing my body to its limit. Leaving the rampaging Baekya be, I imprinted sword forms countless times into my hands.
Stamina hit its limit quickly, and my mind was swayed. My wits slipped away amid the rising demonic energy at times.
Heavenly Tribulation wailed. My legs trembled, and my heart skipped beats occasionally.
I even heard the Ghost Sword Baekya laughing. That laughter mingled with horrific pain, as if my soul was tearing from my flesh.
But still, I pressed on. With death at my back, shattering frozen blood shards, I moved.
There was only one reason I kept pushing myself to the brink.
The desire to act before it was too late to turn back.
"I'm no good with words, First Demon. Sometimes I struggle so much with how to express what's inside that I end up shutting my mouth instead."
Words are like swords.
And swords are like words.
If only I could show others exactly what I feel, but the world isn't that forgiving. To utter even one word requires wielding the tongue as carefully as a blade.
I lacked such eloquence. The heavy sword I wield already embodies the essence of the weighty blade-wouldn't it be stranger if its wielder were silver-tongued?
I thought I couldn't convince her with words alone.
So instead of speaking, I chose to show her through action.
"First Demon. Just in time, I've grasped in my hands what I wanted to show you. As you said, a sword you've grown accustomed to becomes like an extension of your hand."
"...What?"
"Won't you watch? What I've achieved."
I took five steps back. Created distance, then drew Baekya.
As if asking if it never tired, Baekya writhed. Its power somewhat drained, I gently ran my fingers along the blade.
"Good child."
Baekya surged up with a snap. The taunt had landed perfectly. I drew inner energy into my arm, which was beginning to freeze over in an instant.
I still couldn't handle the transforming sword.
But it wasn't as if I had gained nothing.
"...Hoo."
Baekya's torment drove me to the brink of death once it exceeded limits. Even Heavenly Tribulation failed to respond in time at times. Sometimes the world darkened, and I couldn't breathe.
I'm still clumsy. Even so, I move.
Blood-red vital energy gathered at the sword tip. The circulated Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art raced along the blade's edge.
The soaring sword energy sparkled like a star. It took form, painting intent upon it.
The First Demon gasped in shock.
"That's...?!"
Qi is a double-edged sword. Master it properly for great gain, but lose control and suffer the consequences.
True Will's was like that. He couldn't even control his own projected sword aura, letting it pierce his shoulder. His qi mass was all show, empty inside.
Then what of mine?
Before showing the real thing, I loosely warmed up. Drew a portion of what I'd learned into the air.
I twisted my body. Gripped the sword hilt tightly.
Infused the essence into the following strike.
Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art
Fourth Form
Flash Scatter
Blood-red vital energy tore through one realm. The fourth form of the Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art unfolded perfectly in my hand without preparatory motions.
The First Demon cried out in the shattered training hall.
"An improved version of the original Flash Scatter? By yourself?"
Too early to be surprised.
This was no result. Merely a process.
What I wanted to show lay beyond this. The improved Flash Scatter was just a fragment of my enlightenment.
I sheathed the sword. With my body warmed, now came the main act.
I checked my lightly clenched fist.
"......"
I erased sounds one by one. Focused. To show perfectly what I wanted to convey, I couldn't afford a single mistake.
My heart. I poured it into my fist. I wanted her to see the mindset with which I'd built my martial arts.
...I...
I cherished the First Demon's teachings. From her, I received everything I needed.
Her lessons were advice that sank into my bones and flesh; just hearing them set my direction, filling me with joy.
She was behind most of what I could achieve. Our first meeting might have been a mess, but our relationship gradually changed.
The prickly woman began taking my hand first at some point.
Not content with teaching me the sword, she brought new martial arts.
She worried for me, a mere outsider, and got angry on my behalf.
...Thanks to her.
I could gain so many experiences.
"...Hoo."
I exhaled frozen breath. I pondered endlessly what the heart truly is.
I recalled Seong Ja-myeong, and the Black Heaven Axe Sect Leader Maeng Cheon.
I saw the sword swung by Baek Mae, and reflected on the steadfastness shown by Evil Demon of the Four Evils.
I had seen many people.
And I thought I would see many more ahead.
I was blessed. At the tip of the sword I'd forged lay people's stories, letting me examine my own blade more closely.
With a strong body.
An unbreakable sword in hand.
And abundant inner power backing it, what in the world was there to fear?
In endless doubt, I hurled myself. And at the end, I realized.
The way to pour what I wanted to say into my fingertips.
Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art
Fifth Form
If Ghost Hand One Demon supported the basics of the first half.
Then this martial art supported the basics of the second half.
An advanced technique expanding foundational movement into sword aura.
What I'd learned amid countless swings gathered at my fingertips.
Body is sword, sword is body.
The vital energy-infused hand sparkled like a star. Within it mingled glimpses of my past.
Seong Ja-myeong.
Why had I raged so for a fallen comrade?
Beyond mere sight...
To weigh it down further, what was needed?
Sword aura bloomed into flowers before reaching the strike point. I heard the First Demon falter and step back.
I whispered within it.
One isn't enough. Two.
If it couldn't even take form, I had no intent to show it.
"Nine Heavens Blood Demon Art..."
Power filled my uttered words. I imbued intent into the qi within.
Two flowers blooming in one strike. Past and present overlap in the scattering full bloom.
There was only one thing I wanted to show her.
To show that one thing, I fought Baekya, which endlessly tried to freeze me.
Death line and lineage.
Within it, I truly desired.
Not just receiving...
To give back as much as I'd received.
"Blood Shadow Twin Flowers...!"
---Paaaaaaaang!!!!
The flowers fully bloom.
Flowers piled upon blood.
"......!"
Shattered ice chunks are repelled in all directions. One side of the crushed training hall shatters into pieces under the pressure.
Wind erupts. It draws out all the blood scent here, surging to the ceiling.
The First Demon looked up. I followed her gaze to its end.
Something fell from the sky. An upward-flung technique.
A flower of sword aura, blooming then falling.
"......"
Time passes. It changes without grasp.
But some things remain unchanged.
Even if you think it's over, doesn't the flower bloom again? Even if it seems it won't bloom forever, doesn't it fully open when the season returns?
I'd cultivated martial arts and changed vastly from the beginning, yet I stood in the same place. The first flower seemed to vanish at a glance, but I bloomed an identical second one in its stead.
Realm, sword in hand, martial arts learned-all different...
But what I grasped remained the same as the start.
"Blood Shadow Twin Flowers. I've fully comprehended it."
What is martial arts?
What do I seek?
I displayed it for her.
The sparkling sword aura petals in my hand slowly scattered. But the heart I'd shown her didn't scatter.
It weighed more than appearances; even without form, it lingered there.
"I gripped the sword to pierce my will through, and that heart remains the same now."
"...You..."
I was no good with words.
So I spoke.
In the way most familiar to me.
"I'll head to Evil Gate. First Demon. With my current level, even the Cult Leader will allow it. I'll rescue Wolhyang of the Blood Demon Squad. With these two hands myself."
The First Demon fell silent.
Her delayed response trembled.
"...Why... go this far... You've never even met Wolhyang..."
"If she's precious to you, First Demon, then she's precious to me."
"Just... to say that one thing... how much blood did you..."
"I knew you wouldn't permit it, so earning the qualification came first. Fortunately, I spilled enough blood to match the time. Now, I won't easily lose to any demon I encounter. Even cornered, I can escape."
The First Demon's hand trembled. I gently placed mine over it.
"If you can't draw it when you need to, can it be called a sword?"
"...You..."
"Draw it without hesitation."
I smiled in her stead.
Because I hated seeing her cry.
That was all I wanted to say.
"Am I not your sword?"