A Nightmare in the Morning
"What is your purpose?"
A dry, withered, and cold voice sank into the night.
The silence was so absolute that even the stars seemed to hold their breath, and the faint moon hid behind the clouds, its light fading away.
The only things radiating light in the darkness were a few swords floating in midair.
Infused with energy, they drifted through the empty air like falling comets.
Whoosh.
They vibrated faintly, offering a glimpse into the caster's emotions. A single one of these blades possessed enough power to reduce the entire Henan region to ashes.
This was the power of the Heaven's Greatest Sword, the Sword Emperor.
The woman, the Sword Queen, knew this better than anyone.
Keeping that in mind, the Sword Queen moved. She raised a finger and tapped the sword threatening her throat.
She pushed it aside gently. Surprisingly, the sword yielded to her touch without resistance, drifting away.
Leaving the displaced sword behind, the Sword Queen stood up. Even then, the blades continued to hover in the air.
"It has been a long time."
Despite her greeting, the Sword Emperor merely stared at her with a chilling glare.
The Sword Queen let out a brief chuckle at his cold reception.
"You are as stingy as ever."
"You are wrong."
He retorted instantly.
At that moment—
Swish!
A streak of light shot toward the Sword Queen.
Screeech!
The tip of one of the swords controlled by the Sword Emperor lunged at her, but it failed to reach its mark. It ground to a halt right in front of her face, as if blocked by an invisible wall.
"It is not stinginess. We simply do not share the kind of relationship where we exchange trivial pleasantries."
The resentment in his voice was palpable. The Sword Queen did not reply.
Unbothered by her silence, the Sword Emperor continued.
"Seeing how you have walked all the way here on your own two feet, I suppose you are no longer afraid of the Divine Spear?"
At the mention of the Alliance Leader, the Sword Queen's shoulders trembled slightly.
"Of course I am."
"Then do you think it makes any sense for a wench like you to set foot in Henan?"
"But it is the truth. I fear the Divine Spear more than anyone."
She had wished to avoid appearing before him. However...
"Circumstances have left me with no choice."
"Ha. Circumstances?"
The Sword Emperor sneered. He beckoned, and one of the floating swords flew into his hand.
*Thump.*
With a soft vibration, the wind died down. The clouds obscuring the sky parted, revealing a cascade of starlight.
"What kind of circumstances could possibly justify you showing your face?"
"...Well," the Sword Queen said with a smile. "As you said, we do not share the kind of relationship where we discuss such things—"
Before she could finish her sentence, she twisted her body.
Whoosh!
A violent gust of wind whipped past her. It was a strike from the Sword Emperor.
"...Violent as always, I see."
"I will not listen to your nonsense." The Sword Emperor pointed his blade at her. "Why are you here, Yeon Hui-seon?"
His voice was now laced with thick killing intent. It was a clear warning that he would not back down unless she answered.
"..."
The Sword Queen took a step forward, keeping her eyes on him. A westerly wind blew from somewhere.
"I understand your feelings, Sword Emperor. But is it really wise for you to show yourself like this?"
"..."
"I may be the one who fears the Divine Spear, but you are not comfortable dealing with him right now either, are you?"
"Ha..." The Sword Emperor let out a dry laugh. "Yes, I find him troublesome."
He readily admitted it. However...
"But that does not mean I fear him. Do you truly think I would fear that bastard?"
Fear was an emotion reserved only for the weak. With that sentiment, the Sword Emperor unleashed his aura.
"..."
The Sword Queen suppressed a sigh. At this rate, they would end up clashing. She cast a brief glance into the distance, checking on her disciple.
Honestly. That girl always made things difficult when they could have been resolved quietly. She kept her close because her potential was so brilliant, but how many times had she been put in an awkward position because of her?
"Whew."
With a sigh she could no longer hold back, the Sword Emperor's figure vanished.
Immediately, a line cleaved through the sky.
A strike that cleaves the sky itself.
Just as the Sword Emperor's sword dance was about to begin, cleaving the sky—
"The Heaven-Destroying Palace."
Freeze!
Whoosh!
At the Sword Queen's words, the splitting night ground to a halt.
Click.
The Sword Emperor sheathed his sword in an instant. The floating blades vanished without a trace.
"What do you mean by that?" the Sword Emperor asked, withdrawing his energy.
"You heard me clearly."
"Speak plainly before I slice your throat to ribbons."
He rested his hand on his hilt, ready to draw at any moment. Knowing his temperament, she knew he meant every word. He wouldn't care if the Divine Spear intervened. In fact, he might even welcome a clash with him. That was the kind of man the Sword Emperor was. It was a miracle he was moving around so quietly, hiding his presence.
Even though I know exactly why he is doing so.
Suppressing another sigh, she spoke. "The Heaven-Destroying Palace is plotting something in Henan."
"...Right now?"
"Yes."
The Sword Emperor frowned.
"I received word. They plan to strike during the Yongbong Association."
"Haha..." The Sword Emperor let out a low chuckle.
The Sword Queen's hair fluttered slightly at the sound, so dense was the killing intent laced in his voice.
"Does the Divine Spear know of this?"
He did not doubt her words. It was not surprising; that was just how the Sword Emperor operated.
"No."
"Do you plan to tell him?"
"I do not."
"I see."
Click.
The partially drawn sword was fully returned to its scabbard.
"I would love to cut you down right now, but since you have brought useful information, I shall let this slide."
The Sword Emperor turned his back immediately after speaking.
The Sword Queen called out to him. "...Sword Emperor."
He did not stop.
"I know you are also pursuing the Heaven-Destroying Palace. However..."
At the mention of the Palace, the Sword Emperor's steps paused briefly.
"If your reason is revenge, you should stop—"
"One word." The Sword Emperor glared back at her. "Say one more word, and I will kill you."
"..."
"Not you, but that wench over there."
"...!"
Cold sweat trickled down the Sword Queen's neck. She had carefully concealed her disciple's presence with an energy barrier, but the Sword Emperor had already seen right through it.
How?
Had he grown even stronger since the war?
"If you do not wish to carry your disciple's severed head, shut your mouth, Yeon Hui-seon."
"..."
Now was not the time to ponder. The Sword Queen closed her mouth at his warning.
Satisfied, the Sword Emperor dissolved into the air like mist.
"Whew..."
She finally let out her held breath.
...Why on earth is he here?
Only after he vanished did the question arise. If it was the Sword Emperor, he should be...
He should be in Xinjiang.
The former stronghold of the Demonic Cult. He was supposed to be active there.
What is going on?
Why was the Sword Emperor here in Henan?
The Sword Queen frowned and looked toward a certain building.
Could it be?
She thought of the young man who was likely talking to her disciple.
Then, she realized.
"...Wolseongeom."
Thinking of the current Moonmaster of the Blue Moon Sect, the Sword Queen bit her lip.
"You are trying to do something foolish again."
As always, major disasters tended to originate from that sect. It seemed this time would be no different.
"...Sister?" I asked, staring at the face right in front of mine.
The woman smirked.
She had a handsome face that resembled our father. Her striking beauty was in no way inferior to that bastard brother of mine. The gentle, kind-looking eyes characteristic of our family were still there, but the fierce expression she wore completely ruined any impression of innocence.
This woman was my sister, whom I hadn't seen in years.
"Long time no see."
My sister, Bang Seo-jin, spoke with a bright smile.
Long time no see?
"It really has been a damn long time," I muttered.
It had been years. We hadn't even seen each other's faces in all that time.
"...You haven't changed much, sister."
The Bang Seo-jin from right before she ran away from home and the Bang Seo-jin standing before me now looked almost identical. That was why I recognized her instantly. Of course, she had matured, but the vibe she gave off remained exactly the same.
Except...
"...Where did you suddenly pop out from?"
Why was this woman appearing out of nowhere? It genuinely startled me.
"Why? Weren't you looking for me?" Bang Seo-jin asked with a grin.
Sure, I had been looking for her. But I hadn't wanted her to show up like this, and honestly, part of me had hoped she would just stay hidden.
"You've grown so big, but my little brother is still a baby, huh? Still looking for your big sister every night."
"...What kind of nonsense is that?"
When did I ever do that?
"What do you mean? You used to follow me around, crying that you were scared."
I had absolutely no memory of that. I wasn't lying; it was the truth. What she was talking about...
Must have happened before I regained the memories of my past life.
It was a long time ago, a very distant memory.
"Forget about my runny-nose days... What are you doing here?"
Why did she suddenly show up? When I asked that—
"I should be the one asking you that," Bang Seo-jin replied flatly. "What on earth did you do to get rumors about my little brother spreading all over the place?"
"..."
"Isn't that right, our dear Young Sword Saint, Bang Seong-yeon?"
"No, that's..."
"I really had no idea my little brother would become someone so grand," she said with a smirk, making cold sweat run down my back.
Just then—
[Hmm.]
Yoo Chun-gil stared at Bang Seo-jin with interest, a strange gleam in his eyes.
What do I do?
I couldn't think of anything to say. How was I supposed to explain this?
As I was agonizing over it—
"Forget it," Bang Seo-jin said, stepping back slightly.
She walked over to the window.
"I can hear the rest later."
"...What?"
"I'll come back tomorrow. Have your explanation ready by then."
"You're leaving?"
"Of course. Aren't you going to sleep?"
"...Well, yes, I am."
"I just dropped by to see your face today. I'm a bit busy, so I can't stay long."
"..."
If you're busy, just don't come. Why break in in the middle of the night?
Besides...
"Sister."
"Hmm?"
I stopped Bang Seo-jin as she was about to leave.
"Why did you tell me to meet you at the Yongbong Association...?"
Back in Sichuan, she had told me to come to the Yongbong Association. If she said that...
"Weren't you planning to participate too?"
I didn't know what method she would use, but I had assumed she wanted to enter the tournament.
"What are you talking about?"
Bang Seo-jin looked at me as if I were speaking gibberish.
"Why would I go there?"
"You're not going?"
"It's not that I'm not going, I can't go."
"What?"
"Can't you see this?"
Bang Seo-jin pointed to her clothes.
What was I supposed to see...?
"Huh?"
My eyes narrowed as I looked at her outfit.
That was...
"...The Murim Alliance...?"
To my surprise, she was wearing the uniform of the Murim Alliance.
And not just any uniform.
It's the uniform of the main headquarters.
It wasn't the standard attire worn by ordinary branch members, but the elite uniform reserved only for the headquarters' personnel.
For her to be wearing that meant...
"...Sister, did you get a job at the Murim Alliance?"
"Get a job? Your choice of words is still so weird."
Bang Seo-jin chuckled and stepped onto the windowsill again.
"Anyway, that's how it is, so let's talk details tomorrow. I'll come see you again."
"No, you really don't have to—"
Thud!
Without even listening to the rest of my sentence, she leaped out the window.
She was fast. Her speed was no joke.
"...What the..."
I stared blankly at the window where my sister had vanished like a gust of wind after arriving like a flash of lightning.
Did she really just come to say hello...?
Feeling utterly dumbfounded, I watched the night pass by.
Chirp, chirp.
An unfamiliar sound echoed in my ears. I felt the morning light stinging my eyes, accompanied by the chirping of birds announcing the dawn.
It was morning.
I could tell the day had begun.
Ugh... I want to sleep more.
My mind was awake, but my eyes refused to open. As I was enjoying a typical lazy morning—
[Kid.]
A voice I really didn't want to hear drifted into my ears.
[Kid. Wake up, kid.]
"..."
Yoo Chun-gil kept pestering me to wake up.
[Wake up quickly. Hurry.]
Usually, this meant he wanted to drag me out for training. It was best to ignore him.
[No, I said wake up! Wake up! It's an emergency!]
Yoo Chun-gil was unusually persistent today. I really just wanted to sleep a little longer.
[Wake up already!!]
"Gah!"
Unable to bear the screaming in my ear, I bolted upright.
"Damn it! Why are you shouting like a lunatic—"
I glared at Yoo Chun-gil, but then my eyes widened.
"...Huh...?"
A massive wall-like structure was standing right in front of me.
Looking closer, it wasn't a wall. It was a person.
What was this?
I thought it might be Yoo Chun-gil, but he was floating in the air.
Then... who was this?
I slowly raised my head.
I had to look up quite a bit to see the face.
"...Uh...?"
The moment I recognized the giant looking down at me, my body froze.
A thick mane of white hair.
An eyepatch covering one eye.
An old man staring down at me with a sharp, glinting gaze.
One of the Heavens Beyond Heaven, the man closest to being the strongest in the Central Plains.
The Divine Spear, Jeok Ho-myeong.
He was looking down at me.
"Ah."
Seeing him, I realized.
"It's a nightmare."
I had to still be dreaming. Otherwise, this situation made absolutely no sense.