Plum Blossom Fragrance Filling the Air (7)
Namgung Sega. A place where ordinary people don't live.
From the outside, they call it a den of monsters and fear it.
To normal folk, everyone inside Namgung Sega looks like a monster.
But what if those monsters weren't gathered in one spot, scattered here and there?
If Namgung Sega is where monsters dwell, then the world outside is where ordinary people live.
Now imagine dropping one extraordinary person into that ordinary world.
At first, they might treat him like a genius.
But would that last?
Namgung Sega takes in people every year through its training hall.
Most who come to the training hall arrive bearing all sorts of wounds from the outside world.
Wounds from discrimination, rejection, and the like.
Those who stray from the mold, the extraordinary ones, face discrimination.
So in truth, cases like I-gwon were special.
There are hardly any places that lift up and lead those who fall behind.
This was possible only because Sorimsa itself was no ordinary place.
But every now and then, such extraordinary figures appear in places that aren't special like Sorimsa.
Beings who straddle the line between ordinary and extraordinary.
Those beings usually grow down one of two paths.
They stand at the peak and reign supreme.
Or they're thoroughly rejected and end up in the gutters.
Namgung Sega is where such people huddle together.
To put it differently, Namgung Sega acts as a fence, keeping those monsters from roaming freely outside.
And this is just my guess, but...
If Namgung Sega had been even a little weaker, shown the slightest opening, Murim would have rejected it.
Beings that transcend the ordinary are seen as more terrifying than enemies, even if they're allies.
Maybe that's a valid thought for ordinary people.
I don't think their position is inherently wrong.
On the contrary, I see it as natural.
All living creatures have the right to fear those superior to them.
They just stay put because of the power Namgung wields—like it's the natural order.
Who would dare reject Namgung?
They could only be grateful that Namgung Sega's fence held back the monsters.
And so, Murim maintained its current peaceful balance, knowingly or not.
In such an era.
A being far beyond ordinary appeared outside Namgung.
Yu Han. The reason he was called the Sword Ghost before his regression.
My third brother has always been stingy with praise for others, then and now.
Yet one day, after returning from a trip through Murim, he alone praised someone.
"Hwasan harbors a Sword Ghost."
Is that praise? For Third Brother, that's high praise.
After that day, Yu Han was known as the Hwasan Sword Ghost.
The one person, aside from Namgung folk, that my ever-strict Third Brother ever spoke of.
"I..."
I don't know why Third Brother called Yu Han the Sword Ghost upon seeing him, but I trust my brothers more than myself.
He must have seen what I couldn't back then—what even I struggle to see now.
Even if it was from before the regression, Yu Han earned Third Brother's recognition.
Why did he end up like that?
I had a vague guess.
Me, who's scraped by straddling the line between ordinary and extraordinary.
I've been alone, made allies, smashed heads, taken headbutts, even had my gut pierced.
The difference? A point of comparison.
Namgung Sega has it; the outside world doesn't.
That's why environment matters.
I've always been different from others.
Since childhood.
This is a crucial issue.
If Yu Han were a bit older, it wouldn't matter, but he's just fifteen.
Old enough, but still reeks of milk—far from mature.
It must overwhelm him.
And if he'd roamed the world with experience, fine—but a guy who polished his Dao on the mountain suddenly thrust among Murim folk?
Not easy.
If Hwasan had even one comparable to Yu Han, he might not have broken like this.
From now on, I'll give Yu Han his first real point of comparison in life.
This could save Hwasan—or destroy it.
For Yu Han himself, I honestly can't predict the outcome.
So, selfishly, narrowly, I'll think small.
Not the greater good, but personal gain.
No, smaller. Not the group, but the individual.
No, smaller still. Not others, but myself.
And the answer came simply.
My tangled mind cleared.
'I'll just do what I want.'
Life—what's the big deal? Die once, die twice!
So I said it.
"Blah blah blah, shut the fuck up already!"
The surroundings fell silent in an instant.
Perfect.
Chwi, Churyong—that damn Chwi!
Sick of it. Time for a cooler nickname.
"D-Daeso, I..."
Before Yu Han could finish, I kicked a nearby sword toward him.
"Quit whining and grab the sword."
"I... I..."
Yu Han stared at me, eyes hazy.
No intention of picking it up.
Genius types are such a pain.
Ordinary things are alien to them.
Have to spell it out.
Yu Han still gazed at me with blank eyes.
"Hoo."
I exhaled, steadied myself, and spoke again.
"From now on, I'm gonna cut you down for real."
Yu Han's eyes didn't change.
"Then I'll cut down everyone from Hwasanpa who steps up against me. Yeah, starting with that priest of yours from back then."
In that moment, Yu Han's eyes shifted.
'Knew it!'
The Yu Han others know is a merciless Sword Ghost.
But the Yu Han I know has a heart softer than anyone's.
Before regression, when the old Daoist grandpa died, Yu Han returned to Hwasan anyway.
No reason to.
That death severed any bond between Hwasan and Yu Han.
Yet why go back?
To that place that scorned and rejected him so harshly.
'Maybe he couldn't abandon it.'
Hwasan, which the old Daoist grandpa loved to the end.
Yu Han, who loved that grandpa.
But the warmth he'd longed for wouldn't be there when he returned.
He knew that and went anyway.
Filling the void with something else, like I did.
Swinging his sword.
Every time regret surged.
Every time he hated himself.
If only I'd returned sooner.
Master endured this lonely fight alone all this time.
Yes, this pain is my punishment.
Thinking that, he dried up.
"If you don't break me here, I'll smash that priest you called your junior brother. So bad he can never hold a sword again."
"...Why go that far?"
I grinned as wickedly as my brothers.
This next part was crucial.
No mistakes allowed.
'Ah, embarrassing to say it.'
How do my brothers spit this out so casually?
"Why, why! I thought at least you'd be different, Daeso!"
W-Wait, can't you see I'm psyching myself up?!
Don't rush me!
"I thought you'd understand me... That's why I came!"
I'm understanding right now—that's why I'm prepping!
You wait fine usually—why so impatient today?!
It's embarrassing, damn it!
"Even a tiger hunting a rabbit... kuhm!"
Damn, supposed to nail this in one go!
"I have nothing left now..."
"Why not?"
Uh... wrong words.
But this guy's been misunderstanding something.
"When a son leaves home, parents can't step foot outside. Never know when the kid might return."
"What are you..."
"A little blood? Big deal? I bled earlier—no issue. Your junior brother's fine now. And how about looking up for once instead of down?"
Yu Han's head slowly lifted.
Finally looking up fully, his eyes widened.
"M-Master... h-how?"
"The old Daoist grandpa waited for your return, fighting alone for Hwasanpa all this time. Dragging his sick body."
"All because of me... See, someone like me..."
I laid out the meal right in front—won't even eat.
No way the old Daoist spoon-fed him everything, right?
That's why he's such a pushover!
Family table education is key.
I grew up weeding and eating my own grass.
"Gonna run again?"
"But my sword..."
"Cut down your junior brother? Then protect him this time."
A sword's just a tool.
"..."
"The jianghu flows by the logic of the strong."
If Namgung were even slightly weak, it'd be branded Sapa and enemy of Murim.
"What the strong say becomes justice and law."
Namgung survives in Murim because it's strong.
No one dares belittle Namgung because it's ruthless.
Namgung is the world, and the world is Namgung.
"I'd change Hwasan instead of bawling like a pussy."
Yeah. Hwasanpa's worth changing.
Eh? Then why plot to flee Namgung Sega?
Namgung Sega's just too absurd to compare!
Compare apples to apples!
"Become the biggest old fart in that family. The ultimate old fart! What's an old fart? Someone doing whatever the hell they want. If they don't listen, smash their heads a few times. Who's gonna stop me when I'm the strongest? Try dying."
Unlike me the youngest, he's the sect leader's disciple!
What a sweet gig!
If I were the eldest, I wouldn't run either.
For real!
"B-But I..."
"Seems like you're misunderstanding something."
I released my full energy.
Hwaaaaaak.
Dudududu.
The entire sparring platform shook.
"!"
Murim's leaders looked down in shock at the sudden massive energy.
"Impossible..."
The late disciples watching the match gaped in horror.
I grinned.
"Now that's the spirit."
Namgung So smiled happily.
"Hehe."
Puk! Puk! Puk! Puk! Puk! Puk! Puk! Puk! Puk!
"That's it!"
I-gwon excitedly smacked his seniors' heads nearby.
Energy poured from Namgung Daeso.
The sheer volume was visible to the eye.
And the quality—pure, clear, pristine.
Anyone with martial knowledge admired it while their eyes grew heavy.
They knew how hard it was to amass that much pure, clear energy.
Practically impossible.
Yet...
Hwaaaaaak.
It didn't stop.
Hwaaaaaak.
It kept surging.
"Th-This is cheating."
Someone muttered, denying the scene beyond shock.
Most here felt the same but kept it inside.
Didn't want to look even more pathetic.
They bit their lips, feeling the gap.
The released energy had surpassed late disciple levels.
Srulk.
Ignoring the reactions, Namgung Daeso raised his sword toward Yu Han.
"Weak-ass punk yapping like he's hot shit. You beat one average joe and think you can take me too?"
"And if I do?"
'Hoo!'
Yu Han's eyes flickered.
Honestly expected him to break, but this was unexpected.
"I'm the youngest young master of the world's top clan. Lord of Cheonryongjeon. Not words for some Hwasanpa sect leader's disciple."
Yu Han gripped his sword again.
"Some..."
His trembling stopped.
He looked up.
'Master. Can even a wretch like me be greedy?'
In the end, Yu Han gripped the sword again.
The difference? This time, by his own will, not obligation.
"Hm...? What's that smell?"
The stands buzzed for a different reason.
"Plum blossoms...?"
Slowly.
"Any plum trees around?"
Plum fragrance filled the arena.
"None. And it's not plum season."
Then Hwasanpa's stands erupted.
"Th-That's!"
"N-No way!"
They gaped at Yu Han, more shocked than when they'd seen Namgung Daeso.
Hwasanpa's Grand Elder Hae-mu stood abruptly, knowing it rude for a leader here.
"H-How does that child know that art?!"
Sahwaaaa.
Purple energy rose.
Now clear to all, it revealed itself.
Someone in the stands murmured, entranced.
Ja-ha Singong (Purple Mist Divine Art).
This meant one thing: Hwasan's sect leader—or his disciple.
Unexpected plum blossoms bloomed in Namgung Sega.
To my eyes now, it looked different.
'Whoa...'
Craaack.
Craaackle.
The murky shell around Yu Han cracked, and something massive burst forth.
It swam the skies, gazing down at me.
"Don't call it 'some' Hwasan!"
A purple dragon floated serenely in the air.
Fate had twisted. The Hwasan Sword Ghost was no more.
I named what I saw.
"Hwasan Sword Dragon."
The moment Hwasan's dragon opened its eyes.