Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: The Reason Rules Exist - 3
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Thud.
With a low vibrational rumble, Hongryeon tumbled across the ground. Anyone witnessing the scene would be utterly shocked.
Her beautiful red hair was caked in dirt, and her training robes were torn in places.
The one silver lining was that she bore no external wounds.
"Haa... haa..."
Hongryeon sprang to her feet and gripped her greatsword. Her target was a mysterious beauty with deep navy-blue hair that evoked the vastness of the sea.
Every time their endless, profound eyes met, Hongryeon felt herself shrinking. Yet she gritted her teeth and charged forward.
-Kwaaaang!!
Island Tiger Strike. Even this tiger-like blow only made the beauty step sideways. With that single motion, she evaded the light-speed attack, extending a casually clenched fist.
-Puuuung!!
Slow but precise, it struck an opening perfectly. Unable to dodge, all Hongryeon could do was channel her inner energy and deploy her protective aura.
But even an aura that could withstand a demon beast's fangs couldn't endure that light punch.
"Urk..."
Pain rattled her organs, but there were no internal injuries. She must have held back. Hongryeon ground her teeth until they threatened to shatter.
Rage at her own weakness.
"Haaaaah!!"
That fury erupted in a fierce shout.
But striking empty air again brought despair.
The follow-up assault ignited frustration.
Yet she never bowed her head.
Hongryeon's eyes gazed toward that unreachable horizon.
Meeting her gaze, the woman smiled.
"What forms the martial path is qi, body, and heart. Crimson Star tempers the body and cultivates qi. But the heart that wields them must be forged by oneself."
-Kwaaaang!!
Behind the smile came an irresistible force.
Even as it sent her rolling across the ground, Hongryeon's heart remained unbroken.
That pleased her. That delighted her.
The woman drew her sword.
"Impressive growth. Your recent changes are truly remarkable. As your master, I am overjoyed."
Unlike the soft tone from her full lips, her strikes held no mercy. A single downward swing of the greatsword felt like being pummeled by a massive hammer.
She curled up, channeling her inner energy.
Yet it was Hongryeon's resolute heart that shielded her from the encroaching pain.
Thus.
The woman.
Nayerin, Sword Saint and leader of the Crimson Star Sect, leaped into the air.
"Haaap!!"
A falling star's immense power. Hongryeon knew only another star could block it.
-Kwaaaaang!!
When two red stars collided, only one remained standing.
The Sword Saint hadn't yielded to the force, and though she knelt on one knee, she flashed a grin up at Hongryeon.
"Your weak heart is forging itself. As your master, I am immensely proud. But you still fall short."
Her voice was calm, yet brimming with joy at her disciple's progress.
"As you know, the Crimson Star Divine Art is a ferocious technique. One who fails to temper their heart, who cannot engrave righteousness within, becomes a ferocious demon. Like your senior sister."
The ferocious demon swept by ferocity, slaughtering fellow disciples and master alike, seeking to destroy the world.
Unlike the clumsy Hongryeon, who excelled only in martial arts, she was perfect in all things—beloved and recognized by everyone in the Crimson Star Sect, poised to become the next leader.
Even mentioning the senior sister she had been forced to kill with her own hands—whom Nayerin had cherished like an elder sister—the Sword Saint did not lose her smile.
"So please. Never forget the Crimson Star Sect's teaching to revere righteousness. Understood?"
"...Ha. Haha... We've heard it drilled into us since initiation... Master."
Hongryeon closed her eyes slowly at the praise.
She carried the fallen girl, infusing her with inner energy. Though she'd moderated the force, it would likely take days of recovery.
Yet Nayerin couldn't hide her smile.
It was only natural. In past spars, Hongryeon's heart had always shattered.
Weighed down by burdens, she always hung her head.
Nayerin felt guilty for leaving the care of other disciples to her.
Every spar's end, she'd offered to take over, only to be refused by her disciples, leaving her dejected time and again.
But much had changed in recent days.
She welcomed the disciple who sought teachings with a lighter expression, and even in defeat, her spirit held firm.
She hadn't given up.
This brought the Sword Saint immense joy.
"Impressive. Truly impressive. Haha. So proud."
She stroked Hongryeon's hair. Until now, her heart crumbled easily because she tended to the other disciples in place of her incompetent master, who knew nothing beyond martial arts.
Like a sandcastle eroded by wind, her resolve had weathered away.
Yet now she had rebuilt it.
Not a sand tower, but a sturdy stone one.
A small stone tower for now, but piled high, it would surpass even her own realm.
A fine steed indeed.
How could she not rejoice at a disciple eclipsing her master?
Especially since tempering the heart was something even a master couldn't greatly aid. She had always felt apologetic toward her self-growing disciple, who was now so proud and endearing.
Nayerin affectionately stroked her daughter-like disciple, pillowed on her thigh.
"Ow."
"Ah. Sorry about that."
While tousling her messy hair, she accidentally yanked out a few strands and couldn't erase her awkward expression.
She let the awakened Hongryeon circulate her energy for recovery, reviewing the spar. With nothing else to do...
And after that intense swordplay bout.
-Grrrrumble.
Her stomach... was hungry.
But she couldn't go to the kitchen. Last time hunger drove her there, she'd rummaged cluelessly, earning scoldings from Hongryeon and Ryuhyeon.
She was the master. The Sword Saint.
But with disciples she always felt sorry for, she swallowed her grumbles inwardly.
The granary then?
But the previous raid by those ridiculous demonic cultists had wrecked it.
The demonic energy explosion rotted most stored food.
They'd bought new supplies and stored them near the mountain gate.
She'd sneak a handful of barley to chew.
With that thought, the Sword Saint padded barefoot toward the new granary, feeling the earth underfoot.
And there she found them.
Disciples gathered in one spot.
What was happening?
Curious, she approached—and froze in surprise.
A man was there.
Crimson Star Mountain was a sacred peak, drawing strange entities seeking its spiritual energy.
Ghosts, spirits, anomalies.
The Crimson Star Sect had settled here to block yin energies.
Thus, they barred men, symbols of yang, lest the yin corrupt them.
Yet a man here?
Her expression hardened briefly as she moved to eject him, but Ryuhyeon's words resurfaced as she neared the disciples.
The village innkeeper would visit per official request, protected by the guardian formation.
A great benefactor to the sect—please don't cause trouble.
Recalling her beloved disciple's near-pleading, she calmed.
A refreshing aura around the affable-looking man suggested the disciples had already formed the guardian sword formation.
No need to worry then.
Relieved, the Sword Saint turned back to the granary.
What in the world is that?
Her eyes widened.
Sparkling, pretty, vibrant.
Candied treats she'd never seen.
He was handing them to the disciples.
Seeing everyone accept without refusal, Nayerin hesitated.
Should I line up?
They wouldn't skip the sect leader, right?
Unable to resist, she scurried over and joined the queue. When her turn came and their eyes met as he handed her one...
The Sword Saint forgot everything, purely admiring the man before her.
This...
What a peculiar fellow.
The three elements of a person: heart, qi, and body.
The body is the vessel, housing the soul to act in the world. Without it, one enters death's domain.
Qi is the force filling the vessel, animating the person.
A vessel exists to be filled, so it can hold anything.
Thus, the qi within increases the vessel's weight and value.
Like a bowl of water versus a bowl of premium oil.
But a vessel can't hold what exceeds it.
Like a fragile clay pot bursting with heavy water; qi is intimately tied to the body.
The heart differs slightly.
Qi and body define the vessel and its contents, but the heart is their master.
Even a cheap pot with foul water doesn't deeply affect its owner.
But the heart is different. No matter how lowly the vessel or contents, a mighty master demands respect.
Thus, martial artists prized heart-tempering, as did the Sword Saint.
Yet tempering the heart was never easy.
But this?
Qi and body utterly ordinary.
Yet the heart, its master, rivaled her own sky-piercing might.
Not one or two wills.
Hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands.
Perhaps hundreds of thousands fused into human form.
Imbalance had limits.
Many had qi and body dwarfed by heart? No, the opposite abounded.
Hongryeon herself, for instance.
Mastering most of Crimson Star Divine Art with innate sturdy frame, her qi and body unmatched anywhere.
But her heart?
Insufficient growth kept her from properly mastering Meteor Fall.
Beyond her, Ryuhyeon and experts from other sects struggled to master theirs.
Yet this man, with ridiculously ordinary body and qi against a colossal heart—where did he come from?
Even the Sword Saint had never seen such; she nearly blurted it out.
How had he lived to forge such a heart?
She held back for one reason: Ryuhyeon watching anxiously, lest she slip up.
The Sword Saint stared at him again.
A pity.
If a woman, she'd take her as disciple.
A pity.
If met younger, she'd find him a fitting master.
Words lingered unspoken. Why? Traces on his body.
'Subtle Taiji Fist... The Chae family found and refined him.'
Her rival's house, trustworthy in martial matters, had adapted it from Wudang.
Subtle Taiji Fist traces lingered on him.
Guiding him there was sound judgment; ideal for him too.
Among rare arts, it prioritized will—the heart—over qi and body.
Perfect for his abnormal heart.
Still a martial art; without tempering qi and body, growth had limits.
But with that mighty heart and steady practice, he'd soon grasp the 'softness' enlightenment.
'Tch.'
A gem already shaped by another—her rival. Touching it violated warrior taboo.
Like stealing another's disciple.
Nayerin eyed him wistfully, then shook her head.
Greed. Pure greed.
Seeking to add her mark was mere desire.
She glanced at her hand, holding the beautiful candy.
Can't just take this without reciprocating...
What to say to one suffering under a crotchety master? Her poor eloquence balked at non-martial talk.
But pondering always yielded answers.
As ever, she found one.
Following it, she patted his shoulder naturally.
"Hang in there."
Perfect.
Hongryeon or Ryuhyeon wouldn't scold this.
"May I have one more? For Ryun."
He nodded silently. Deciding to invest a bit more heart, Nayerin clenched her fist in another cheer before padding lightly away.
In her departing hand.
A pretty, appetizing candy for Hongryeon.