Chapter 296: Zhuge Jinseon. (1)

Time was dim.

It was around the time when dark clouds were steadily gathering, as if it were finally going to rain.

Thick clouds had covered the moon.

The forest, where moonlight did not reach, was only dark.

Kureureung….

The monsters lingering nearby.

Were all holding their breath.

Even beasts that had lost their reason, with only gluttony remaining.

Had a tiny bit of their hidden true nature left.

Seemingly recognizing that they were beings the ones before them couldn’t dare approach.

Sarak.

Fluttering clothes broke the silence, making a sound.

Uung-

The sword held in the hand seemed to resonate, emitting its sword name.

As the dark clouds covering the moon moved just a little.

Moonlight briefly illuminated the forest.

As the light shone.

The silhouettes of two people facing each other in the forest briefly appeared.

One was.

A beautiful woman with snow-white hair and blue eyes.

The other was.

An equally beautiful woman with golden hair and the same golden eyes.

The woman with white hair.

The Sword Empress-nim.

A sword emitting a blue light.

Pointed the tip of her sword, Noea, at the other woman.

The thunderous energy (noe-gi) emanating little by little.

Swirled around, crouching menacingly.

Separately from that.

The expression of the very person emitting the thunderous energy was utterly serene.

The emotions contained within her expressionlessness were unreadable.

It was just the faint scent of blood wafting.

That told of her not being a safe person at all, unlike her expression.

-What is it?

It was a cold and resolute tone.

The killing intent deeply embedded in her voice.

Caused the monsters holding their breath nearby to suppress themselves further.

The wind blew.

The wind blowing from the other side carried a nose-piercing smell of blood.

At the end of the direction the wind was blowing from.

The corpses of the assault team sent by Shaolin and Wudang.

Lay scattered across the plain.

Creating puddles with the blood they spilled.

Although dozens had attacked at once.

The Sword Empress had killed them all without sustaining a single scratch.

She was simply majestic.

That was the impression upon first seeing her.

The woman who heard the Sword Empress’s question.

Still had a hesitant expression.

The Sword Empress’s sword tip stared at the woman, unwavering.

As if ready to swing at any moment.

Her spine chilled.

The Sword Empress was feeling a sense of crisis for the first time in a while.

The woman before her eyes.

Was someone who could make the Sword Empress feel sufficiently tense.

Amidst the gradually fading moonlight.

A golden aura, resembling her hair, shone brightly.

Little Sword Saint Wi Seol-ah.

A descendant of the Sword Master.

She was the woman called the hope of the Central Plains.

This was right after finishing the previous assault.

The Little Sword Saint appearing as if she had been waiting for this situation.

The Sword Empress aimed Noea and raised her internal energy (nae-gi).

Coincidentally, this was someone she had wanted to meet and spar with someday.

Kugugugu….

With the fighting spirit (tu-gi) and killing intent emanating from a martial artist who had reached a supreme realm.

Even the flowing wind stopped.

The Little Sword Saint, who had been lightly brushing off the fighting spirit emanating from the Sword Empress.

Opened her mouth as she looked at her.

-I have something to say.

-…You… to me?

At the Little Sword Saint’s words, the Sword Empress momentarily stopped raising her internal energy.

It was an unexpected statement.

For the Sword Empress, conversation existed only through the sword, aside from the sword itself.

-What words?

Nevertheless, the reason she listened first.

Was because the existence known as the Little Sword Saint was someone ‘he’ cared about.

To the Sword Empress’s question.

The Little Sword Saint hesitated for a long time.

-…Tomorrow, the Alliance’s assault team will come for you.

She brought up an incomprehensible story.

The Sword Empress momentarily thought she had misheard.

Not just anyone.

But the woman called the hope of the Alliance and the Central Plains.

Because it wasn’t something she should be saying to a demon person like herself.

-…What are you doing?

Her wariness only increased.

No matter how much the Sword Empress heard from the Demon Lord (Ma-je) that she usually seemed thoughtless.

She wasn’t entirely like that.

Not just anyone.

It wasn’t something the person currently called the core of the Alliance should be saying to her.

Pajijijik-

Noea emitted its thunderous energy as if angered.

Kugugung.

As if letting out a cry, the energy gradually approached the Little Sword Saint.

Huuk-!

The golden aura lingering nearby blocked the intrusion of the thunderous energy.

As energy met energy, a great vibration echoed.

-This isn’t a joke.

-…If not that? Why are you telling me?

The Sword Empress asked again in the incomprehensible situation.

But the Little Sword Saint offered no answer to this.

-…This time, the Heavenly Lord (Cheon-jon) will participate.

-So?

-Even you and the Demon Lord won’t be able to escape easily.

The words meant that the Heavenly Lord, and not only that, but those called the elites of the Alliance were scheduled to attack all at once.

Hearing up to that point, the Sword Empress.

Finally seemed to understand why the Little Sword Saint had come to deliver such words.

-Little Sword Saint.

-Yes….

-Are you worried about the Demon Lord?

-…

At the Sword Empress’s words.

The Little Sword Saint’s shoulders visibly flinched.

It was a comical reaction.

The woman who was the hope of the Central Plains.

Ignoring the dead behind her.

Coming to tell her these words.

How contradictory and hypocritical it was.

Does he know that the Little Sword Saint is this kind of person?

He probably doesn’t.

And the Sword Empress also had no intention of relaying this.

Even if she were to tell him.

-Even if you tell him, he will go.

Even if she knew it was a place to die from the start.

He would head there.

Pasak.

The energy of Noea, which had been fully emitted, disappeared.

The fighting spirit and killing intent pressing down on the surroundings subsided.

It was because the Sword Empress had withdrawn her energy.

-Because it’s something the Cult Leader (Gyo-ju) ordered.

The Heavenly Demon’s (Cheon-ma) words are law.

Of course, the reason he heads there.

Was not solely due to the Heavenly Demon’s order.

The Sword Empress knew.

Yet, she couldn’t understand.

What the woman before him meant to him.

What experiences she had gone through.

That he could make such a choice.

The Sword Empress could not know.

And did not want to understand.

Her life was solely about the completion of the sword.

And liberation.

No.

Perhaps now, she might understand a little.

It was too late to utter it aloud now.

Or even to think about it for a long time.

To the Sword Empress’s response.

The Little Sword Saint wore an inscrutable expression.

What kind of emotion was that?

The Sword Empress, who didn’t understand others’ emotions well.

Still only had a vague idea.

-…If you go there, truly….

-He won’t die.

-…What did you say?

She was a woman who hadn’t properly decided on anything.

Whether to live a life as a hero.

Or, alternatively, pursue other options.

She couldn’t choose any of them.

It’s disappointing.

If it’s the Little Sword Saint.

She had thought she might be someone more similar to herself.

But it seems she is human.

While she herself is human, she claims to be a demon person.

If so.

What is this feeling she is experiencing now?

The Sword Empress realized that the feeling she was experiencing now was jealousy.

She didn’t know until the moment she died.

-He won’t die.

-…Sword Empress.

-Because I will make it so.

She said, brushing back her hair.

What meaning did those words carry?

The Sword Empress had to constantly repeat the words she herself had uttered.

The Little Sword Saint remained the same.

Her eyes flickered, and her inscrutable expression was the same.

If she struck now, she felt she could sever the neck in an instant.

Should I try?

She considered igniting Noea.

But the Sword Empress decided against it.

Because she didn’t feel like doing it.

She observed the Little Sword Saint before her.

The internal energy flowing out was pure.

The golden aura surrounding her was brilliant.

However.

Her eyes were dead.

As if right before collapsing from exhaustion.

Her body was engulfed in pressure.

And the brilliant flowing energy was somehow unstable.

If this was the appearance of a martial artist swaying without direction.

She thought it was laughable.

If that was truly the hope of the Central Plains.

She felt she could cut her down right now.

In that case.

[In that case.]

[Would he dislike it?]

The Sword Empress, upon a fleeting thought.

Had to stop her fingertips from moving.

Since when?

Had she started having thoughts like these?

It was truly unsettling and uncomfortable.

And then, with a sudden thought.

The Sword Empress blurted out without hesitation.

-It seems… I dislike you.

It really seems so.

The Sword Empress concluded that.

To the Sword Empress’s words.

The Little Sword Saint merely stared at the Sword Empress without any response.

She is incomplete.

Despite possessing such energy, how did she fall into delusion?

The Sword Empress couldn’t understand.

-If it bothers you that much, why don’t you go yourself?

Instead of coming to talk to her.

She should have just blocked it with her own body.

If it were the Sword Empress herself.

She certainly would have done so.

Because if she didn’t like something, she could just cut it down and leave.

It was the Little Sword Saint who bit her lip at the Sword Empress’s words.

Seeing that, the Sword Empress added one more thing.

-Coward.

-…!

Immediately after spitting the word, she turned her back as if her interest in the Little Sword Saint had waned.

And walked away.

Because she remembered that if she was late again, ‘he’ wouldn’t let it slide.

And.

That the Little Sword Saint said these words today.

The Sword Empress would never tell him.

The reason is the same as before.

She simply didn’t want to tell him.

If it’s a little bit of pouting, then it’s pouting.

After the Sword Empress left.

The Little Sword Saint, left alone.

Raised her head and looked at the sky.

The moonlight that had been shining little by little.

Was completely hidden by the dark clouds.

And on top of that.

-Coward.

The words the Sword Empress had spat out felt particularly piercing to her heart.

-…Coward….

That’s right.

She is a coward.

Without properly choosing any path.

She was just holding her breath.

If that wasn’t being a coward, what else could it be?

She’s tired.

Tired and suffocated.

Yet, she had to walk.

Until when?

To where?

Why am I?

She asked herself these questions out of habit.

But as always, there was no one to provide an answer.

-Great Leader…!

As she closed her eyes for a moment.

A voice reached her ears as if it had been waiting.

Only then could the Little Sword Saint open her eyes briefly.

Turning her head, members of the Alliance appeared.

-Ugh…!

As soon as one member approached, he covered his nose.

Even though it was wafting from afar.

The scent of blood was too strong.

-Great Leader… Where is the Sword Empress…?

-By the time I arrived, she had already fled.

-Oh no…! It seems we were too late. Even though the Great Leader rushed… It’s a regrettable situation. You worked hard, Great Leader.

To the member’s words, the Little Sword Saint nodded slightly.

It was a voice without a hint of suspicion.

-…If you go to the rear, you’ll find traces of others. Let’s clean up and withdraw.

-I will follow your orders. Move out!

-Yes!

As the others moved.

The Little Sword Saint also moved her stiff body.

She couldn’t show her exhaustion.

She was the Little Sword Saint.

And their hero.

And a few days later.

The Sword Empress kept her word.

She lost her life in his stead.

And he survived.

-….

“Unni?”

At Wi Seol-ah’s words, the woman stopped her thoughts.

It was a memory she still didn’t want to recall.

How much time did she have left to stay like this?

That it wasn’t much time left at all.

The woman felt certain.

So before then.

She had to finish everything she could before leaving.

-I told you once.

“Yes?”

-…The Moon-Embracing Swordplay (Wolseon Mugum) is a sword technique that contains the moon, but you shouldn’t chase the moon.

“Yes.”

It was a sudden statement.

But Wi Seol-ah nodded.

Because the woman’s voice seemed somewhat urgent.

-I hope you quickly find the meaning of that.

“…Yes.”

You shouldn’t chase the moon with the Moon-Embracing Swordplay.

What could this mean?

It was a strange statement that offered no answer.

Wi Seol-ah kept asking what it meant.

But the woman said she couldn’t give the answer.

She had to find it herself.

Only then.

Could Wi Seol-ah achieve what she desired.

‘What I desire.’

Wi Seol-ah thought.

What did she desire?

From the very first thought.

Until now, her desire hadn’t changed.

I will protect him.

It was the sword she learned for that purpose.

And the goal she set from the beginning.

She would not fade.

She absolutely had to.

---

And then, in the forest where the fierce battle had taken place.

There was someone lying down, looking at the sky.

“Wow…. Shit.”

How exhausted was he? His body wouldn’t obey him.

Should I say it’s to the point where even his fingers wouldn’t move easily?

Ha.

Putting his throbbing body aside.

He barely managed to let out a sigh.

He even felt a sense of emptiness.

“Damn, he’s strong.”

The sky he looked at while lying down felt like it was spinning.

“Kkeueung….”

He tried to get his body up with great effort.

But it wasn’t easy at all.

Since he had been hit in more than one or two places.

‘Damn old geezer.’

He was sure he had landed a proper attack on his abdomen.

But Bi Yijin seemed fine even after taking it head-on.

“What? Not bad? Is he really a pervert?”

He even casually uttered the words ‘Not bad.’ after taking that hit.

The problem started after that.

‘I couldn’t even graze him.’

At first, he seemed flustered by the increased speed.

But after exchanging blows a few times.

It was as if he had adapted to the body fueled by blood energy.

He deflected all attacks.

He was an opponent whose outcome was uncertain even if his body was fine.

Fighting in an injured state was torture.

‘…Even so, I didn’t expect the difference to be that significant.’

Bi Yijin.

The sense of distance he covered.

The trajectory he extended.

Even down to every single bending joint.

Moved as if he had grasped it all.

He seemed to see not just the final point of contact, but every moment of my movements.

It felt like he saw every single moment of movement.

I had experienced this in my past life too.

But experiencing it in my current state made the difference stark.

The title ‘pinnacle of martial arts’ wasn’t just for show.

The result led to my defeat.

“…It was taken.”

Moreover, even the belt I had finally obtained was taken.

Blood energy couldn’t be used for long in the first place.

And since I was injured internally, my body quickly became strained.

Eventually, as soon as my energy depleted, the match was decided.

And I ended up lying on the floor.

How long has it been since I was defeated?

It was the first defeat I experienced among the later generation disciples.

‘…Well, I’m not exactly a later generation disciple.’

Even considering Bi Yijin’s identity as the Battle Venerable (Pae-jon), given his body had undergone rejuvenation.

My situation was far more advantageous.

Although I have the excuse of internal injuries.

‘Even if I were in perfect condition, could I have won?’

I don’t know what would have happened if I had poured in my internal energy.

But I couldn’t be satisfied with just that.

While I wondered if the defeat was frustrating.

My past life was one of repeated defeats.

So losing just once now didn’t evoke any particular feeling.

Thinking about it like that feels a bit pathetic.

-You are truly peculiar. Compared to your apparent talent, your close-combat techniques (bak-tu-sul) are quite lacking.

Just before leaving with my belt.

Bi Yijin, returning to his original way of speaking, said this to me.

‘Lacking in close-combat techniques, you say.’

It was something I had been feeling lately.

Based on my overwhelmingly high internal energy reserves.

I had adapted to wrapping and controlling flames.

But regardless, since it involved punching at close range.

I needed to train that aspect.

-Since I won the bet, as promised. Let’s arrange a meeting later.

“…”

Of all times, the Battle Venerable’s voice came to mind.

As the Battle Venerable, he would likely teach me something.

But even so, that wasn’t it.

‘If it’s not right, it’s not right.’

At this point, when it’s barely enough to hone what I already have.

Learning something new was out of the question.

Rather.

‘It would be better to find my father.’

Someone who might have reached the pinnacle of the martial arts I possess.

Since he is so close, it would be better to learn from my father.

Although the thought of that man teaching me anything is unimaginable.

“Now, just a little…. rest….”

I need to go get my belt.

Just as I was thinking that.

I moved my head and spoke.

“…Ah, troublesome….”

I sensed a presence I hadn’t noticed.

It seemed my senses weren’t functioning properly due to exhaustion.

This is annoying.

It’s a bit inconvenient right now.

‘Besides, they’re close.’

Very close.

Considering the location….

‘Right… next to me?’

Just then.

Sook!

I saw a hand reaching into my embrace.

They were probably aiming for my belt.

‘…But.’

Tak.

“Why are you so slow?”

“Ugh…!”

Making the surprise attack futile.

With such slow speed, I succeeded in grabbing the opponent’s wrist.

If they could be caught even in this state.

They must be very slow.

To the point where I wondered how they survived until the third trial.

I wanted to rest a bit longer.

But since the situation had become like this, I got up.

As I forced my body up, my muscles felt like they were screaming.

I endured it.

The opponent tried to pull their arm away from me somehow.

But they seemed to lack the strength to do so.

Using the grabbed arm as a hostage.

I confirmed the opponent.

“Who are you?”

“I… I’m sorry…!”

The opponent had black hair.

And their face was hidden by long, drooping bangs.

Their flustered appearance, as if they hadn’t expected to be caught, was utterly pathetic.

They look like a guy, but why are they so frail….

“Hmm?”

Between the hair covering their face.

Trembling, tearful eyes caught my attention.

Upon a fleeting glance at those eyes.

I immediately grabbed the person by the neck and subdued them.

“Gak…! Wait…!”

“You.”

I released the wrist I was holding.

And lifted the person’s bangs.

Revealing the hidden face and eyes.

“Huh?”

As soon as I confirmed the face.

I let out a breath of exhaustion.

I had been wondering how I would ever find them here.

But the person I was looking for had come right to me.

‘No….’

Can I even call them ‘that guy’?

In my past life, they definitely were.

‘Why do they look like this?’

I think they were a woman.