Ch.15Chapter 15 – Inner Demon (4)

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Bi-wol’s inner demon was originally the fate she was meant to have.

The Star of Heavenly Murder.

It was the aftermath of the setting written by author Han Do-hyeon, a variable created when he twisted Bi-wol’s fate, and the future that would have occurred if he hadn’t saved her.

“Master…? How are you in my mental world?!”

Bi-wol looked back and forth between Bing-yeon and her inner demon, covering her face with her hands in embarrassment.

How ugly a sight she must be showing her master. Even though it was her innermost feelings, she never expected them to be this uncontrollable.

“Did you think this master couldn’t find where his disciple was?”

Bing-yeon said while stroking Bi-wol’s head. Feeling his rough yet warm touch, she couldn’t help but smile.

“Master, I apologize. Due to my inexperience, this happened…”

A hot sensation kept rising to Bi-wol’s face. She remembered how she had fallen into a trance, desperately craving Bing-yeon’s love.

“Enough. It was this master’s fault for not realizing how much you’ve been suppressing your emotions. Therefore, let us correct this together.”

“Correct it together…?”

“You will continue this sword debate in my place.”

Bing-yeon said with a smile to Bi-wol.

From now on, she needed to defeat the inner demon herself for it to be meaningful. If her master did it for her, it could reappear at any time.

“Should I behead that detestable inner demon, Master?”

Bi-wol cried out while feeling the sensation of the sword she held for the first time. Despite being made of ice, it felt as solid and heavy as steel.

“Yes, I will help you with what you lack.”

A sword created by her master Bing-yeon solely for her. Just remembering this fact filled her heart with emotion.

“Hahahahaha…!!!”

Seeing the two of them, Bi-wol’s inner demon began laughing like a madwoman. It was like watching a martial artist who had gone insane or fallen into a trance.

“Sweet Bi-wol, I told you! I am you, and you are me!”

“…No, you’re not me. To be precise, you’re my inner darkness. The weak heart that fears not being loved by Master and dreads a world where Master is gone.”

“So what? You also adore Master! You harbor feelings more tender than anyone else in this world! When it comes to someone you love, what could be wrong!”

“The love Master taught me is not an emotion that hurts or harms others.”

Bi-wol pointed her sword at her inner demon. The sharp blade was aimed at her, and her proper stance radiated firm determination.

“…The world has fallen into darkness! To think that a child born with the fate of killing her own master would lecture me about right and wrong!”

Seeing this, the inner demon also drew her sword. The shadow-like black blade emitted an ominous aura.

“My name is Heavenly Demon, the Star of Heavenly Murder! Now, let’s see if you can win with that precious master of yours!”

The inner demon’s tone and aura had truly transformed to resemble the Heavenly Demon from the original work “Diamond Fist King.” With each breath she exhaled, the ground trembled, and a bone-chilling cold could be felt.

“My name is Bi-wol of the Ice Dragon Fate Sect. I will kill you and overcome my inner demon.”

However, Bi-wol couldn’t back down even knowing her opponent was stronger than her current self. This was the inner darkness she needed to deal with herself.

“I’ll use the Heavenly Demon Dominion Step to close our distance to one step, then use the Heavenly Demon Blood Slash to target your dantian, cutting upward from below.”

Killing intent shot out like lightning from the sword tip toward Bi-wol, but she fearlessly recited her technique.

“No, Bi-wol. You should use the Snow Print Traceless Step here. The ground is covered with snow, isn’t it? If you use a step technique that focuses only on power, your feet will sink and you’ll easily lose balance.”

Bing-yeon pointed out the error in her approach. Seeing Bi-wol about to make a mistake in her first sword debate, the inner demon clicked her tongue.

“Now, follow this.”

Footprints appeared on the lightly piled snow. The footsteps of the one who went ahead indicated a safe path to follow.

Using them as a guide, Bi-wol slowly stepped forward, manifesting her sword path.

“…I will deflect with the Mount Wudang’s Supreme Wisdom Sword! I will embody the principle of flow in my sword, using the principle of Transplanting Flowers to reverse your attack!”

For an instant, space rippled and the sword seemed to bend. Her sword blade, extending like a tree branch, was aiming to pierce her own dantian.

“At this rate, my dantian will…!”

“The mystery of Transplanting Flowers is not exclusive to Mount Wudang, Bi-wol. Focus on the distorted space created by your opponent, think about what means you have to twist it.”

Even in such a moment, Bing-yeon offered advice to his disciple. After all, the martial principle of Transplanting Flowers—using an opponent’s strength without them knowing—wasn’t exclusive to Mount Wudang’s Supreme Wisdom Sword.

The Great Shift of Heaven and Earth, meaning to greatly move heaven and earth, was the Ming Sect’s pride, a supreme martial art from Persia in the West.

“Using the Great Shift of Heaven and Earth Divine Art, I will change the direction of the attack you reversed.”

With that cry, Bi-wol deflected the incoming sword blade with her foot. Each movement was a concentration of power that straightened the distorted space.

“I’ll draw another sword from behind my back and use the Miao Family’s Twin Dragon Whirlwind Sword! Be torn to pieces by the whirlwind!”

Judging that one sword wasn’t enough, the inner demon unleashed a dual-sword technique. Was there a way to block the whirlwind at such close range?

“Heavenly Demon Divine Art, Nine Heavens Demon Sword, I’ll rotate my body to target your flank.”

Bi-wol spun her body and swung her sword to counter the whirlwind, but it wasn’t enough to block attacks coming from all directions.

“Bi-wol. Without proper preparation, your rotation speed won’t be consistent. Lower your body more and bend your knees further to maintain your center. Your body’s center of gravity must be firmly established to reverse the opponent’s flow.”

Sharp sword wind grazed her cheek, drawing blood, and at that moment Bing-yeon offered another move to her.

Like a master showing a move to a disciple playing Go for the first time, Bing-yeon continued to reveal perspectives she couldn’t see.

“Have you no shame as a martial artist! Not even thinking of achieving greatness on your own, just following in your master’s shadow! Is this truly the way of martial arts and chivalry!”

The inner demon mocked Bing-yeon and Bi-wol, seeing this. Unlike herself who had trained alone in martial arts, Bi-wol was weaker despite having a master helping her.

Weak and soft.

Inexperienced and fragile.

Like looking at an ill-maintained sword, nothing seemed right, but…

“The ‘martial’ in martial arts is strength that protects the weak, and ‘chivalry’ is the heart that looks upon the weak with compassion.”

Beside her stood a master who had already achieved greatness. A sage whose purity in martial arts could not be matched by anyone.

“Bi-wol, that is your darkness. After exchanging sword techniques, do you understand what went wrong?”

“When I exchange blows with the inner demon, my wrist angle becomes unstable. The trajectory of my sword keeps twisting.”

Bi-wol said with trembling hands. Surely the figure before her was another version of herself, but why was there such a large difference?

“That’s what the opponent is aiming for. You’re still not of age, so your strength is weak and your height is small, which is why she’s trying to overpower you.”

Bing-yeon knew the reason for this difference. No matter how cautious one should be of women, children, and the elderly in the martial world, they couldn’t help but be overpowered by the strength of a healthy adult.

“Then, what should I do?”

“I should match the opponent’s breathing, stay one move ahead. Find weaknesses in the opponent’s fingertips, feet, posture…”

“No, Bi-wol. Here, you must first find your own weaknesses. If you try to use techniques without mastering the basics, you’ll only hasten your defeat.”

Bing-yeon shook his head as he listened to Bi-wol. Normally, to face a strong martial artist, one should use even stronger martial arts, but…

“The inner demon’s weakness is the same as your own.”

This was a sword debate about martial arts.

“This is a sword debate taking place in your mental world. In the end, realizing what you lack will be the key to victory.”

Bing-yeon said while stroking Bi-wol’s head once more. From the beginning, this was the realization he wanted to give her.

Awareness of one’s shortcomings, and contemplation on how to advance to a higher realm.

“The opponent’s breathing is faster than yours, and her feet are always pointing forward. Even if you move one step ahead against such an opponent, it’s difficult to overturn the entire situation.”

He was merely guiding her direction and effort from the side.

“Then, what should I do?”

“To control the trajectory of your sword, straighten your wrist more and distribute your strength evenly throughout your wrist. Having no tremor at the tip of your sword is the most basic thing, and what you must keep in mind.”

Bing-yeon was correcting her sword-holding posture by touching various parts with his hands. She was transforming into a refined and restrained form, like a well-carved statue.

“If you want to break the mold, first master the basics completely. That is breaking the mold.”

In Go, to make an unconventional move, one must first properly understand all the standard patterns.

“Let’s try the Heavenly Demon Blood Slash once more.”

“But, I just failed with that technique…”

“This time, mix your footwork with your sword technique. If you use your small build and flexibility as strengths, you can break through even against an inner demon.”

Even a stone that seems trapped like a dead group can be used to secure victory—that’s the beauty of tactical play.

“You, damned child…!”

“Master, I did it! Please, the next move…”

Bi-wol’s kick struck the inner demon’s solar plexus. Coughing up blood, she was pushed back three steps.

“……”

“…Master?”

Seeing this, Bi-wol expected her master’s next advice, but Bing-yeon remained silent.

“With the tenth form of the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, Heavenly Demon World Destruction, I’ll destroy you and this mental world. Try to block it if you can!”

Taking advantage of this opening, the inner demon was preparing her final move. It was a technique Bi-wol had never used or even known about.

Seeing that sharp killing intent, Bi-wol was frightened. Why wasn’t her master helping her?

Her hands trembled, and the tip of her sword began to shake. At this rate, she would lose the sword debate and be devoured by her inner demon.

‘Master, Master, Master, why aren’t you helping this inadequate disciple…!’

Bi-wol called out her master’s name in her heart, and as if in response, Bing-yeon whispered in a small voice.

“Bi-wol. This time, there is nothing I can help you with.”

At that moment, Bi-wol’s eyelids opened wide, and she began to see a new landscape. It was something floating in the sky above the snow scene.

An existence that brings hope of dawn no matter how dark the world becomes, something that can appear even during the day when the sun is out.

“…I will follow Master’s final teaching.”

Flying Moon.

It was something with such a simple name.

Bi-wol filled her fingers gripping the sword with gratitude for her master, evenly distributing all her strength, and straightened her wrist to keep the sword tip from trembling.

She put strength in her legs, bent her waist to properly center her weight. She stepped firmly with her left foot to ensure the sword’s power wouldn’t disperse.

Without disrupting her breathing, she had to inhale and exhale slowly but deeply, and explode all her power when swinging the sword.

“I hate the heavens that abandoned me, but I am grateful to the heavens that brought me and Master together.”

At the tip of her raised sword appeared a whirlpool that seemed to swallow all the sorrows of the world, drawing up seawater.

“How can the sky be just the sky? Like Master’s heart, its height cannot be measured. Because it can make all things under heaven look up to it, it is another world.”

A path opens.

Through the thick demonic energy that feels suffocating, a gap appears where a blade can penetrate.

Broadened insight and recovered breathing.

A vision that sees the flow beyond the immediate move.

“The snow falling like cold white snow was what made me know warmth, and the sea that devours everything was to cool the hot summer.”

All of this was the basics, what she learned from her master Bing-yeon.

“Therefore, cherishing everything Master has taught me, and to love even myself, I proclaim here with all my heart.”

Bi-wol said those words while looking directly at her inner demon, her darkness.

“This girl’s name is Bi-wol.”

Heavenly Demon Divine Art,

Eleventh Form,

Flying Moon.

“I am Bi-wol, the moon floating above Master’s ocean-like heart.”

KWAKAKAGAGAK─!

Like a huge moon falling from the sky, a circular sword strike poured down on the inner demon.

“…Well done.”

And seeing this, Bing-yeon stroked his disciple’s head and said in a low voice.