Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Heaven-Covering 108 Swords
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Heaven-Covering 108 Swords.
A sword art he had personally devised after nearly eighteen years wandering the world in his previous life, having borne witness to countless martial techniques.
It was a bit embarrassing for him to boast about it himself, but if he evaluated it objectively,
it embodied mysteries profound enough to be hailed as a technique for the ages, an absolute divine art.
There was one reason Baek Yang-hui thought so.
The Heaven-Covering 108 Swords was a swordsmanship that wielded sword aura and intent energy—symbols and proof of the Super Peak realm.
Heaven-Covering. Overwhelming the skies.
The foundational imagery passed down through the Baek Clan Manor since the days it was known as the Baek family household, underpinning all of their martial disciplines.
In his previous life, while devising arts for his clan, Baek Yang-hui had constantly pondered and obsessed over it.
'What must be prepared to manifest a sword that covers the heavens?'
The conclusion he had reached after long years of trial and anguish.
The Baek sword had to become that very entity overwhelming the skies.
To achieve this, it required unshakeable sturdiness—heavy and resilient.
And speed swift enough to transcend a line and appear as a plane.
'Like the wings of a hawk soaring through the open sky.'
The Heaven-Covering imagery Baek Yang-hui arrived at was the hawk.
Wings slicing the heavens faster than anything else.
Talons gripping prey with unyielding ferocity.
Swiftness and weight.
Fast, yet steadfast.
A sword swift as a beam of light yet heavy as a thousand-ton boulder clashes against one vast as the sky, looking down upon all creation.
Kieeeaaah—!
The hawk slams its body into the firmament, unleashing a piercing cry.
Heaven-Covering 108 Swords. Secret Technique.
Eagle's Roar Covering the Heavens.
The Heaven-Covering 108 Swords consisted of six primary forms, each with eight variations, totaling fifty-four techniques.
Yet it was named Heaven-Covering 108 Swords for a reason.
Fifty-four techniques were contained within half a breath.
'Faster. Even faster.'
Fifty-four twice over. In one exchange, one stroke, 108 techniques unfolded.
A sharp vibrational hum followed. A sword cry evoking the hawk's scream.
Kieeeaaah—!
Sound is vibration and its transmission. The faster the vibration, the higher the pitch.
Executing fifty-four techniques twice in a single breath—the resounding sword cry was proof of mastering the Heaven-Covering 108 Swords.
Beyond Bee Wings and Hundred Bee Wings, the final and ultimate realm of the Heaven-Covering 108 Swords—Baek Yang-hui named this the Eagle's Roar Realm.
"Alright, let's wrap this up quick. I'll go all out from the start."
Matching the incessant hawk cries, Namgung Cheon-yeong unleashed his imagery and intent at full power.
In an instant, illusions unfolded. A vast, cloudless azure sky stretching endlessly high.
That moment.
Kieea, kieeeaaah—!
Eagle's Roar Covering the Heavens. Pure white, colossal hawk wings blanketed the sky.
A shrill cry tearing through the surroundings, ripping the firmament asunder.
The chain of 108 strikes in a single swordstroke shredded not just Namgung Cheon-yeong but everything in existence.
'...It's over.'
The scenery of his previous life shattered, revealing the dim cavern interior.
His returned youthful body. Meager inner energy. No pain registered from his middle or upper dantian.
Baek Yang-hui smacked his lips in mild regret.
Since he'd gotten to relive those memories anyway, maybe he should've savored it a bit longer?
'Ah, where's Seol-ha?'
He spotted her right away. Not far off, sobs echoed.
"Hic... Father. Please don't. Please, please... Hic...!"
Zhuge Seol-ha lay collapsed on the ground, weeping uncontrollably and pleading.
She seemed still trapped in the illusions conjured by the musical tones and formations.
Baek Yang-hui considered helping, then changed his mind and sat on the floor.
'She has to overcome this last part on her own.'
Weeds toughened by harsh winds grow resilient, and iron struck repeatedly forges into a fine sword.
This trial would serve as fine nourishment for Zhuge Seol-ha right now.
Moreover, Baek Yang-hui was certain.
'You can do it, Seol-ha.'
Judging by the resolve and spirit she'd shown since entering the Pure Sound Five Senses, she could surely overcome this past trauma.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Children are objects of affection, care, and adoration.
They absolutely should be. Never anything else.
...Zhuge Seol-ha had once been that way, too.
Once upon a time.
"Seol-ha, the time has come for you, as a member of the Crouching Dragon House, to begin your martial training."
"Yes, Father!"
Even as she answered brightly, five-year-old Zhuge Seol-ha suddenly felt something off.
A shrinking within, a chilling prickling sensation.
'What's this? I don't know.'
"Our house's Mystic Origin Upper Core Divine Art is an ascending art that works the upper dantian. Circulate it carefully."
A whisper echoed in her mind.
No!
Intense revulsion surged. Yet, as if entranced, Zhuge Seol-ha circulated the Mystic Origin Upper Core Divine Art.
Then, the rampaging Peach Blossom Qi. The surroundings darkened with sweltering energy.
"Urgh!"
"Kyaaak! No! Father!"
Puuk!
Her father pierced his own palm with a blade.
Zhuge Seol-ha screamed madly.
"Kyaaaak! Kyaaaak!"
Blood flowing. A pool forming on the floor.
"Seol-ha. I'm sorry."
No, Father. I'm the one who's sorry.
For cursing you with this heavenly punishment in my body, making you suffer—I'm truly sorry.
That instant.
Zhuge Seol-ha returned to the opening scene.
"Seol-ha, the time has come for you, as a member of the Crouching Dragon House, to begin your martial training."
"Yes, Father!"
Unlike Baek Yang-hui, Zhuge Seol-ha couldn't perceive the artificial qi flow induced by the tones and illusions dominating her mind.
Thus, in this endlessly looping scenario, her spirit endured the fresh pain and loss anew each time.
Puuk!
A sword piercing the palm.
Father drenched in blood, sleeves soaked through to his entire body.
"Kyaaaak, hic, no! No!"
Back to the start.
Puuk!
"Seol-ha, for a father to feel desire toward his daughter... You're not at fault. It's all this worthless father's doing."
"No! No, Father! Hic, hiiic."
I am a being that wounds those around me.
Father and elder brother alike harbored forbidden desires because of her cursed fate, tormented by guilt and self-loathing.
To the family elders and peers, Zhuge Seol-ha was a curse-like existence evoking disappointment and contempt toward herself.
Puuk!
'I must not be with others.'
Puuk!
'My fate is to live alone forever. Because my mere existence inflicts pain.'
Puuk!
So... so... let's just vanish.
The moment Zhuge Seol-ha felt that urge.
-Zhuge Seol-ha.
-Whatever it is, don't hide behind it.
Back to the beginning once more.
"Seol-ha, the time has come for you, as a member of the Crouching Dragon House, to begin your martial training. From today, you'll learn the Mystic Origin Upper Core Divine Art."
"...Father."
The father she saw every day—why did he feel so dearly missed and welcome?
"Our house's Mystic Origin Upper Core Divine Art is an ascending art that works the upper dantian. Circulate it carefully."
"Yes, Father!"
She circulated the Mystic Origin Upper Core Divine Art. Even with the warning to be careful, she couldn't focus at all.
Her mind brimmed with stray thoughts.
'I won't give up. I won't run away.'
Why did such thoughts arise when facing neither a daunting task nor an enemy?
The moment she sensed the oddity, the upper dantian stimulated by the art went berserk.
Explosive energy spreading—dark yet feverish.
'Peach Blossom Qi. Right, I have the Peach Blossom Physique.'
The nature of Peach Blossom Qi wasn't the type to kindle desire toward lowly things.
Rather, like bees and butterflies drawn to flowers, it enchanted and captivated those whose hearts stirred at beauty.
Thus, all with the Peach Blossom Physique were born with heavenly beauties.
A fact uncovered over three years of utmost caution...
'How do I know this?'
Come to think of it, something was strange. She was a five-year-old child.
Yet oddly, this moment felt like a distant past.
As if... as if... No, that wasn't important now.
"Kyaaaak!"
A scream bursting unbidden.
A resolute determination solidified in Zhuge Seol-ha's heart.
'I can't let Father drown in self-loathing and agony again.'
If those stray thoughts filling her mind were true,
she couldn't just scream here.
Puuk!
The blade pierced the palm.
But the hand's owner was not Zhuge Seon—it was Zhuge Seol-ha.
"Seol... Seol-ha!!"
Her father stared in horror. In his eyes, Zhuge Seol-ha glimpsed his inner imagery.
Different from... before? The Peach Blossom Qi rampage was today's first—had there been a before?
Anyway.
Unlike before, no desire lurked in Father's imagery.
Only worry for his blood-soaked daughter.
Despite the excruciating pain in her hand, Zhuge Seol-ha smiled.
"Seol-ha! What have you done! Why would you do this?!"
Feeling her father's warm love, Zhuge Seol-ha beamed broadly.
"Father, I love you."
That instant. The illusion shattered.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Already two hours had passed. Subjective time, but probably close enough.
Even after Baek Yang-hui awoke, Zhuge Seol-ha had spent two hours alternating between sobs and fainting spells.
'Hm. Time to intervene?'
According to Yin Hu's words, the Pure Sound Five Senses lacked perfect safety measures.
In her case, the endless illusions were likely the side effect.
Left like this, it might leave deep scars on Zhuge Seol-ha's mind.
'But... if she overcomes it, she'll gain heartforce refined even tougher.'
Just a bit longer. Let's wait a little more.
As Baek Yang-hui thought that.
"......"
It stopped. The ceaseless sobbing.
The corners of Baek Yang-hui's mouth lifted naturally.
'That's right. I knew you could do it, Seol-ha.'
Zhuge Seol-ha's face had calmed. She slowly opened her eyes.
Baek Yang-hui kicked off the ground and dashed over in one bound, yelling loudly.
"Wah!"
"Kyaaak!"
Zhuge Seol-ha yelped in shock, then spotted him and glared fiercely.
"S... Senior Brother! What are you doing?!"
"What do you mean? You weren't snapping out of it, so I woke you with the most effective method."
Baek Yang-hui grinned as he replied, and Zhuge Seol-ha fumed indignantly.
"If you weren't my benefactor, I'd have socked you..."
"Who said I'd let you?"
"...One day, I'm really gonna land one..."
That was when it happened.
Clang!
The iron door—which he'd missed in the darkness—swung open, flooding the cavern with light.
"...Looks like it's finally over."
"Yeah."
Zhuge Seol-ha's face filled with boundless emotion. She'd been trapped in the Pure Sound Five Senses for nearly ten straight days, after all.
"Let's get out. I feel grimy; first thing, a thorough bath."
"I want some hot soup."
Beyond the iron door stretched rugged mountains.
"Senior Brother, which way is Huwok Inn?"
"Follow me."
Baek Yang-hui gauged direction from the sun's height and position, navigating the mountain path with ease.
After about an hour of walking, a pavilion appeared at the mountain's edge.
Huwok Inn.
"Ah! We're here!"
Trailing behind Baek Yang-hui, Zhuge Seol-ha's face lit up instantly as she bolted toward the inn.
She burst through the inn's door.
"Father!"
"Seol... Seol-ha! How are you back so soon... More importantly, you—you're speaking! Even with the Peach Blossom Qi?!"
"A lot happened! Father, I love you!"
Listening to the voices from inside the inn, Baek Yang-hui smiled.
This was the moment he completed the long initiation rite and claimed a spot as Yin Hu's disciple.