The Fragrance of Ten Thousand Plum Blossoms

A faint killing intent coiled around the sword-light of the Plum Blossom Swordswoman, whose bamboo hat was pulled low over her face.

Yeong-hwa whispered to the dazed Hagun.

"Senior Brother, you need to prepare yourself."

"What do you mean?"

"The… atmosphere of the melody has turned strange, hasn't it?"

"Damn it—that's killing intent!"

Skaaang—

Hagun set down the drum and drumsticks and drew the Pine-Gate Ancient Sword in a single motion.

"Alright then."

Yeong-hwa scooped up the drum and sticks, stepped through the Taiji Green Pine Steps, and quickly retreated.

Hagun, by contrast, unfolded the same footwork and charged straight at the Plum Blossom Swordswoman.

Kaaaaaang—

The Wudang swordsman's blade and the Plum Blossom Swordswoman's clashed, shrieking through the air. Scarlet sword-qi and the pure white sword-qi pouring from Hagun slashed fiercely at one another.

The Plum Blossom Swordswoman took the initiative. Face hidden beneath the bamboo hat, she glided backward on the Jade Ring Marvelous Steps as lightly as a butterfly. In perfect harmony with the elegance of her sword strokes, the profound principle of the Illusory Sword blossomed from her blade. Phantom and true forms fluttered around Hagun like butterflies in every direction.

As if determined to shatter the swarm of false and true forms at once, internal energy exploded from Hagun's body.

Kuuuuung—

He stamped down with a thunderous step; sword-wind howled from his blade. Without pause he thrust the tip straight at the Plum Blossom Swordswoman. Sword-qi flowed like clouds while the wind coiled around the blade like a whirlwind.

The butterflies of phantom and killing forms, woven by the Illusory Sword, were drenched by the Soft Sword's clouds and blocked by the whirlwind; they tumbled from the air. The Plum Blossom Swordswoman seemed to have expected it. She simply continued into the next form.

Sarak—

She soared into the air on the Jade Ring Marvelous Steps and descended as softly as falling petals. Moonlight gleamed along her plum-blossom blade as its tip leveled at Hagun. Her every movement was a single spray of plum blossoms scattered on the spring wind.

Sarak— sarak— sarak— sarak— sarak—

Then scarlet sword-qi bloomed from her blade in every direction, a full orchard of plum blossoms. She vanished into that full bloom.

Kaaaaang—

Hagun barely managed to raise his sword and block a thrust from the right. He closed his eyes, spreading his spiritual sense and entrusting everything to the blade. Amid the mercilessly swirling plum blossoms he began, in reverse, to tread the Nine Palaces.

Together with the Taiji Green Pine Steps, his sword moved with majestic power.

Kaang— kaang— kaang— kaang— kaang—

The two swordsmen exchanged exactly eight blows.

Seogeok—

On the final stroke the Plum Blossom Swordswoman's edge cut Hagun's right arm. From beneath the bamboo hat came her low voice.

"Not enough."

Refusing to yield, Hagun ignored the wound and charged, shouting,

"Not yet!"

He met the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Swordplay with the full power of the Taiji Thirteen Swords. Yet his robe grew steadily redder with blood from multiplying cuts. Even standing at the very edge of Peak Expert, he could not so much as graze her sleeve. Instead the Plum Blossom Swordswoman pressed him harder, drawing the sword-dance onward.

Beneath the moonlight the duel of Wudang and Plum Blossom reached its climax. A sweet plum fragrance spread in every direction. What flowed along her blade was neither divine power nor madness, but pure human talent chosen by the sword itself. From under the bamboo hat a voice thick with killing intent spoke.

"This is the end."

At once scarlet blade-energy condensed along her sword and burst into full plum blossom bloom. Softly she drew a horizontal cut.

Hwarrrrrrrr—

Flame-shaped blossoms gathered into one place, then exploded outward in full glory across the entire field.

Kuuuuuuung—

A majestic wind howled through the plum grove. At its center stood Hagun, Pine-Gate Ancient Sword in hand. He swept the blade in a great circle. At the tip of that brush-stroke a graceful Taiji diagram manifested. Sword-qi poured forth, embroidering internal energy once more upon the Taiji. He set the sword at the center of his body and closed his eyes.

Saaaaaaaaak—

Black-and-white sword-qi whirled within the Taiji and soared toward the night sky.

Sarrrrrrrk—

The plum-blossom blade-energy scattered and raked mercilessly across the pillar of Taiji. A thin line of blood trickled from the corner of Hagun's mouth as he barely held back the storm of blossoms.

From behind, Yeong-hwa shouted urgently,

"Senior Brother! Is Taiji Returning to the Origin only a defensive form?"

The question Yeong-hwa had thrown struck Hagun's mind like lightning.

"No."

Sudden enlightenment made his eyes snap open. At the same moment the Nine Palaces Taiji Heart Technique he was circulating surged freely through blocked meridians and the middle dantian.

"Then what is Taiji Returning to the Origin?"

"The foundation of the Taegeukhyekeom."

His sword-qi thickened, forging brilliant white blade-energy.

"It is the final form of the Taiji Thirteen Swords—the form that nullifies every force!"

At the profound principle of the Taiji Thirteen Swords that Hagun spoke, Yeong-hwa smiled gently.

Kuung— kuuuung— kuuuuuung—

The Taiji sword-qi that had merely been fixed to the ground transformed into blade-energy. The blade-energy spun rapidly. Hagun lowered his sword and whirled into the matching sword-dance. Along the continuous Taiji paths the storm of plum blossoms lost its momentum.

Saaaaaaaaak—

Scarlet plum blossoms and black-and-white Taiji annihilated each other, turning to a handful of ash.

Thud—

The shock of sudden enlightenment drove Hagun to one knee. Startled, Yeong-hwa started toward him.

"Senior Brother!"

"Yeong-hwa, stay back!"

Hagun laid his sword on the ground and immediately sat in meditation. Black-and-white internal energy naturally spread around him. Matching the grand movement of the Nine Palaces Taiji Heart Technique rising through the middle dantian, he circulated his energy. Internal power laden with the qi of Taiji flowed gracefully through the twelve primary meridians, the eight extraordinary vessels, and the fine vessels.

Half a shichen passed.

"Cough—"

Hagun spat black blood. The black-and-white aura that had filled the surroundings sank once more into his body.

"Hoooooo—"

He completed another great circulation of the Nine Palaces Taiji Heart Technique and exhaled deeply. When he opened his eyes, his presence was utterly transformed.

He seized the Pine-Gate Ancient Sword lying beside him, rose, assumed the middle stance, and poured every scrap of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠internal energy into the blade. Blade-energy bloomed along it in pure white radiance. Hagun wore an expression of disbelief.

"Senior Brother, congratulations on ascending to the Super Expert realm!"

"I… truly…"

Yeong-hwa stepped over with the Taiji Green Pine Steps and lightly jabbed Hagun's side with an elbow.

"Haven't I told you again and again? The next Sect Leader will be you, Senior Brother!"

"Ahem, Yeong-hwa!"

Chak—

Hagun hastily sheathed the Pine-Gate Ancient Sword and looked at him. Yeong-hwa's face was bright with pure joy.

"After walking the line between life and death so many times, how could you remain at Peak Expert?"

And he was sincerely happy.

"Yeong-hwa… thank you."

"It is all thanks to your stubborn effort, Senior Brother—not mine."

Yeong-hwa turned his gaze to the Plum Blossom Swordswoman, whose scarlet light had faded.

"Shall we go? The Plum Blossom Swordswoman is waiting."

"You're right. I nearly forgot."

Hagun hurriedly snatched the drum from Yeong-hwa's shoulder and settled it carefully on his own. Yeong-hwa walked slowly ahead; Hagun followed.

The Plum Blossom Swordswoman, exhausted from unleashing the full Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Swordplay, sat collapsed on the ground. Faint moonlight filtering through the plum blossoms revealed the face beneath the bamboo hat.

The Plum Blossom Swordswoman was none other than Wol-yeon.

Unable to hide his shock, Hagun spoke.

"Daoist Wol-yeon?"

Yeong-hwa, as though he had known all along, clasped his fists toward her.

"Daoist Wol-yeon, what brings you out on a night like this without sleep?"

She removed the bamboo hat. Her unfocused eyes murmured,

"I miss the geomungo…"

Changgeurang—

She let the silent plum-blossom sword fall limply.

"This is not the right note…"

As if entranced, she looked at Yeong-hwa. Her gaze fixed precisely on the geomungo strapped to his back.

"You've come."

In a voice that raised gooseflesh she whispered to the instrument.

"My only friend… my own blood…"

Yeong-hwa shot Hagun a look.

"Senior Brother—the Five Elements Expelling Evil Scripture."

"Understood, Yeong-hwa!"

In an instant Hagun was at Yeong-hwa's side, drumsticks in hand.

Dung— dudududung— dududududung—

The drumbeats Hagun struck echoed across Huashan. Yeong-hwa's feet lightly kissed the earth in time with the rhythm. He unslung the geomungo and held it out to the approaching Wol-yeon.

"We've met again…"

With a pitiful expression she stroked the geomungo and pressed her cheek to it. Her eyes, no longer merely red, flooded with blood-light.

Yeong-hwa's clear voice slipped into her ear.

"If you have missed it so much…"

Skaaang—

The Pine-Gate Ancient Sword settled into Yeong-hwa's right hand. Tinkle— tinkle— tinkle— tinkle— The silver bells shivered rapidly in his left.

"Why not play one piece together?"

Before the words had fully left his mouth, Wol-yeon sat, laid the geomungo across her knees, and began.

Tting— tiiiiing— tiiiiiiing—

A fierce geomungo melody that seemed ready to devour the drumbeats coiled through the air. Dung— dungdududu— dungdudududu— The solemn drum answered, driving back the eerie strings.

Between them ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Yeong-hwa smiled and rolled his shoulders. That small motion soon became a sorrowful dance. From his lips, matching geomungo and drum, a taryeong poured forth of its own accord.

Seogeok—

While singing, Yeong-hwa pressed his thumb against the sword edge. He sprinkled the flowing blood upon the ground and circled the two who were lost in the music.

At first the drum and geomungo had sought to devour each other; now they blended into a refined melody. Wol-yeon plucked the strings madly. Hagun whirled the drumsticks with divine vigor. Tinkle— tinkle— tinkle— tinkle— tinkle— Then the silver bells in Yeong-hwa's left hand shook wildly, joining the music. With cunning subtlety they herded the geomungo's sound little by little into a corner.

Wol-yeon, entranced, played faster still. Blood now welled from the fingers that struck the strings. Yet her performance could not silence Yeong-hwa's bells or Hagun's drum.

Then—

Tiiiiiiiiiiing—

A string, unable to endure her hands, snapped. At the same instant Yeong-hwa halted the dance, pointed the silver bells at the geomungo, and sang the final lines of the scripture.

Tiiiing— tiiiing— tiiiing—

As the Five Elements Expelling Evil Scripture ended, all seven strings of the geomungo snapped at once. Yeong-hwa leveled the bells and advanced on the instrument. Panicked, Wol-yeon clutched the geomungo and stumbled backward.

"Stay away, stay away, stay away, stay away!"

Yeong-hwa fixed her with a fierce glare and shouted,

"Daoist Wol-yeon—is that a geomungo?"

"Wh-what are you saying?"

"I asked if that even looks like a geomungo to you!"

She hugged the instrument tighter.

"Can't you see them too?"

A wild smile spread across her face.

"My father and my little brother, brought back to life by the geomungo's song…"

"Is that truly so?"

Yeong-hwa shook the silver bells as he came right up to her nose.

"Are they truly Daoist Wol-yeon's family?"

"Th-that is…"

"You and I already saw them!"

Yeong-hwa's roar rang across Huashan.

"Didn't those two who appeared as Huashan's plum blossoms tell you themselves?"

"No… I… I… I… I still want to see them more…"

Wol-yeon now lay prostrate, clutching the geomungo. She looked like a child refusing to surrender a precious toy. Yeong-hwa leveled the Pine-Gate Ancient Sword at her.

"Will you remain forever intoxicated by the illusions ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the geomungo shows, able to do nothing else?"

Moonlight sliding along his blade slowly pierced her blood-red eyes.

"Will you live out your life imprisoned on Huashan?"

"I… I… I…"

She could not finish. Yeong-hwa looked at her with pitying anguish and cried,

"Speak! Spit it out!"

Tears brimmed in Wol-yeon's eyes. That thin stream soon became a sorrowful rain.

"I want to live free!"

"Is that all?"

"I want to play the geomungo my whole life, to sing, to roam the world!"

"More, more, more, more!"

"I want to live the life of a true artist!"

Sobbing, she flung the geomungo she had held so dear from her arms. At the same moment the blood-qi drained from her eyes and was sucked into the instrument. Yeong-hwa brought the Pine-Gate Ancient Sword down in a fierce arc.

Seogeok—

The blade split the geomungo cleanly in two. At once he shook the silver bells and examined the wreckage.

"There you are."

In his hand lay a faintly glowing fragment of blood jade. He slipped it into the salt pouch at his waist.

"Strange… it shouldn't be this small…"

Concealing the unease rising in his heart, he slowly approached Wol-yeon. She lay face-down on the earth, weeping bitterly. Sweat-soaked Hagun came up beside him, drum still on his shoulder. Yeong-hwa spoke carefully.

"Daoist Wol-yeon…"

She sobbed,

"I hate Huashan… I hate the sect… I hate everyone's expectations… I hate the sword…"

Her wails continued.

"Just… please leave me alone… please…"

Hearing this, Hagun quietly opened his mouth.

"Is that the path Daoist Wol-yeon desires?"

The quiet sincerity in his voice made her raise her head without thinking.

"What?"

"I asked if that is the life you dream of!"

She wiped her tear-streaked face with her sleeve and nodded.

"Why did you never tell the Sect Leader and the elders?"

"I did! I told them—over and over…"

As if wronged, she pounded the ground with her fists.

"They say I'm Huashan's future. They say I must lead Huashan…"

Puk— puk— puk— puk—

In frustration she now beat her own chest.

"How can I betray Elder Jangjin, who saved my life?"

She poured out her resentment to Hagun.

"Tell me—how am I supposed to abandon the sect that raised me ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and fed me?"

"What does that have to do with anything!"

Hagun thundered at her.

"What?"

"I said—what does that have to do with you, Daoist Wol-yeon!"

His words seemed to stun her.

"So you'll give up everything, stay bound to the Huashan Sect, and live this way until you die?"

Hagun's sincerity struck her heart.

"If it doesn't make you happy, if you don't even want it—why do you only make excuses and never break free?"

"You… you don't understand!"

"I don't understand!"

Hagun's eyes were bloodshot.

"I have none of your talent. I'm only a mediocre swordsman who, no matter how hard I train, still falls short of the Taiji Thirteen Swords!"

Tears gathered in his eyes.

"But I have never blamed others and run away from my own life."

"You…"

"That is the Dao I learned…"

He wiped his eyes with his sleeve.

"…and the true way of living my master taught me."

"Hic— huuuuuuuh—"

At Hagun's heartfelt counsel, Wol-yeon burst into wretched sobs. Yeong-hwa looked up at the sky and swallowed the tears welling in his own eyes.

Hagun said to her,

"Stand up!"

She still swayed, unable to rise properly.

"Stand up by your own strength…"

His trembling voice spread across Huashan.

"…and unfold upon the world what you truly desire!"

Only then did Wol-yeon rise on her own. In Hagun she saw the grain of the life he had lived. At that beautiful scar she reached out without thinking and took his hand.

"What is this…"

At her sudden action Hagun's face flushed red.

"Daoist Hagun… just for a moment… please hold my hand a little longer."

She stared at him with an expression that said she would never let go. In the early spring of Huashan, where plum blossoms bloomed in full, a single flower bud opened in the hearts of the man and the woman as well.

At the rising affection between them, Yeong-hwa bashfully lowered his head.

"Ahem. I know nothing of this."

He turned away and pretended not to see. Then his gaze sharpened and fixed upon one particular plum tree.