Chapter 413: The Nightmare of the Dark King.

Even though summer days arrived, my day didn’t change much.

If it changed just because a little heat arrived, that would be stranger.

I just realized that time was flowing little by little with the changing weather.

“Haa.”

While taking a short break after finishing strenuous training.

I looked straight ahead, my slightly heated body cooled.

Unlike me, who was resting, the front was full of heat.

It was the heat from the internal energy the martial artists were emitting.

Chaeng-! Chaengchaeng-!

Rough sounds were heard continuously.

The wind carried a dense feeling, mixed with internal energy.

If you ask where this was coming from, it was the sound of Namgung Bi-ah and Jamryong sparring with all their might.

If you ask why the two people were suddenly sparring.

It had become a trend since the day Baekryeon-geom caused trouble.

I watched it with apparent interest.

‘This is new again.’

The two of them sparring.

Jamryong and Namgung Bi-ah.

They were geniuses who wouldn’t have met each other in a past life.

Because by the time Namgung Bi-ah properly appeared in the Central Plains, Jamryong had already passed away.

It was simply amazing that those two were sparring right before my eyes.

And.

‘It’s quite fierce.’

The sparring between the two was extremely fierce.

It was like that during the last sparring match with Baekryeon-geom, but this time felt different.

The aspect stemming from their similar cultivation levels was evident.

Both were at the peak of mastery.

They were insufficient to cross the wall to the Hua Jing realm, but they were at a level where they wouldn’t be considered weak anywhere.

Kang-! As their sword blades collided, sparks flew into the air.

The traces left by the internal energy imbued in the swords were also clear.

Moreover.

‘Fast.’

Perhaps because both were swordsmen focused on speed, not only their physical speed but also their judgment was considerable.

My gaze turned towards Jamryong.

Even if I didn’t know much about Jamryong’s martial arts, one thing I could tell was.

‘Looking at it now, the movements are very rough.’

It was full of a rough feeling, too much to be called a Taoist.

Are all the people from Wudang like this?

‘That’s not it.’

That guy is the peculiar one.

That was certain.

Even compared to Taoists from other sects, his feeling was exceptionally different.

You could tell from Yeongpung, who is called the Sword Dragon, as another example.

Although it was said that Mae Hwa Sword Technique itself was too rough to be used in such sword forms.

Yeongpung possessed a neatness closest to the basics.

Shall we say it felt faithful to the basics.

In contrast, Woohyeok.

‘He’s a madman.’

He was moving arbitrarily, barely possessing the framework of the ‘flow’ that Wudang pursues.

Isn’t this also why countless people gave Woohyeok the nickname Jamryong?

Such movements themselves are impossible unless one is a genius.

Deviating from the sword techniques Wudang possesses. Building sword paths arbitrarily with only the framework, and moving without issue while using it?

An ordinary martial artist would live with utmost concentration to avoid being consumed by the framework of their martial arts.

Jamryong was the opposite, which is why he is called a genius.

And this.

The opponent, Namgung Bi-ah, was the same.

Paddeudeuk-! Lightning energy poured out of Namgung Bi-ah’s body without rest.

Seeing that, I chuckled in disbelief.

‘It increased again.’

The number of lightning energy bursts increased.

That means Namgung Bi-ah’s internal energy capacity has increased.

No, is she secretly taking some divine medicine? Why does it increase every time I see her?

‘Even her control ability…’

The unnecessary movements of the lightning energy streams have decreased.

This means Namgung Bi-ah is getting more accustomed to controlling it, and furthermore.

‘The weightiness of the Emperor Sword Form has also increased.’

Her sense of using the Namgung family’s secret techniques has also increased.

Namgung Bi-ah truly.

“Day by day…”

“Aren’t I pretty?”

“Becoming pretty…?!”

At the suddenly intervening voice, I quickly turned my head.

There stood Baekryeon-geom, looking at me with a bright smile.

“Ugh!”

Seeing that, I startled and put distance between us.

Baekryeon-geom, confirming my reaction, put on a hurt expression.

“…Look at this one? Reacting like she saw a bug?”

“How can you suddenly pop out like that…! You startled me.”

“If a guard did that, would they say ‘I’m guarding you~!’? They’d move quietly.”

“Why would you do that even to the person you’re guarding?”

“There’s a saying that to deceive the enemy, you must first deceive your allies.”

At Baekryeon-geom’s brightly smiling words, I let out a deep sigh.

That saying wasn’t meant to be used in situations like this.

‘Why is this ajumma acting like this?’

She would often pop out like this, so it wasn’t a small surprise.

I looked at Baekryeon-geom with displeased eyes.

Her smile, as if pleased by startling me, was incredibly annoying.

She wasn’t like this at least when I first saw her… I don’t know how she ended up like this now.

As some time had passed, a certain change had occurred in my relationship with Baekryeon-geom.

To put it another way, it would be more accurate to say that my perspective had changed.

Firstly, it was okay to treat her somewhat casually.

‘…What should I call this.’

From the perspective of a junior, should I say that she doesn’t mind if I act a bit cheeky, as long as it’s not excessive profanity?

If you put it nicely, she’s magnanimous, but otherwise, she’s a bit dense.

Once I knew that, I could change my attitude towards her a bit.

‘Even if that weren’t the case.’

I examined Baekryeon-geom’s shoulder.

It was a part where we agreed to place a restriction.

‘I can’t believe she actually had it placed.’

Baekryeon-geom told me to place it if I didn’t trust her, so I did, but.

I never thought she would genuinely ask me to place the restriction.

A martial artist who has reached the Hua Jing realm should know how dangerous it is to place a restriction on one’s own body.

Baekryeon-geom accepted the restriction without any issue.

It’s unknown what she thought I would do with this when she readily accepted it.

Of course, thanks to that, Baekryeon-geom hasn’t caused the same kind of trouble as before.

However, that incident caused one unusual change.

“How do they look?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Those two. Who do you think will win?”

That is, the frequency of Baekryeon-geom talking to me has increased a lot.

It’s because I’m often by her side as her guard, but.

The problem was that it made things a bit hectic. As is Baekryeon-geom’s personality, she sometimes asks strange questions.

Just like now.

‘Who do I think will win?’

I had to slightly furrow my brow at Baekryeon-geom’s question.

It’s a difficult question.

Jamryong and Namgung Bi-ah were astonishingly similar in their cultivation levels.

Peak masters who would soon face the wall of Hua Jing.

It was a realm too outstanding for two people who had just passed their youth to reach.

‘…Even if you consider me an exception.’

I am an exception because I defied time. I’m not a genius in the first place.

Normally, peak mastery.

It’s an average realm for a martial artist from a prestigious family to reach around the age of thirty after repeated effort.

Considering that reaching peak mastery takes another ten years of effort.

It’s understandable why the current generation of late bloomers are called the generation of shooting stars.

In that regard, those two.

‘They’ve already surpassed the framework of late bloomers.’

To gauge who will win by looking at those two?

‘…’

If they were mediocre, maybe, but no matter how I looked, they seemed similar.

However.

My gaze was particularly fixed on Namgung Bi-ah.

Paddeudeuk-!

Along with a fierce sound, sword energy mixed with lightning energy left traces in the air.

As I said earlier. It was lightning energy incomparable to when I first saw it, but.

‘Hmm.’

The extending lightning energy couldn’t penetrate Woohyeok’s surroundings.

It couldn’t break through the ‘flow,’ which is Wudang’s secret technique.

‘It flows well.’

The flow that Wudang aims to achieve, the essence and meaning of their martial arts.

Although Woohyeok’s sword was rough, it did not deviate from that meaning.

It deflects and absorbs the attacks.

Woohyeok’s sword absorbed the sword energy Namgung Bi-ah scattered and swung again.

The extending sword energy repeatedly shot out rapidly.

Namgung Bi-ah’s delicate control is astonishing, but.

Woohyeok’s spirit, absorbing it, retrieving it, and shooting it out, is also incredibly surprising.

Shall I say it makes me laugh hollowly just watching?

‘Damn geniuses.’

Anyway, geniuses were all the same; there wasn’t a single aspect I liked.

I clicked my tongue inwardly repeatedly, then focused on the sparring again.

Baekryeon-geom’s question about who I thought would win.

Although I said I didn’t know much about it.

In reality, I knew it instinctively.

My gaze was directed towards Namgung Bi-ah, just like before.

She was continuing the sparring without the slightest frown, but I think I knew.

That sparring.

“Sword Dancer will lose.”

Meaning Namgung Bi-ah would be defeated.

Baekryeon-geom’s eyes widened in surprise upon hearing my decisive answer.

“That’s unexpected? You’re more decisive than I thought…?”

“Since Baekryeon-geom also thinks so, you asked me, didn’t you?”

As I said that, looking displeased, Baekryeon-geom smirked.

“I thought you’d give a different answer because you’d defend your people.”

“This is separate from that.”

“Still, you don’t deny that child is yours.”

“…”

I didn’t answer Baekryeon-geom’s teasing words and quickly turned my head away.

The sparring was still ongoing, but my furrowed brow showed no signs of relaxing.

‘Why is she acting like that.’

Although it didn’t seem like there was a major problem on the surface, Baekryeon-geom, as well as myself, would know.

That something was strange with Namgung Bi-ah.

Her destructive power and surprisingly good control were not the issue, but.

There was a problem with the sparring itself.

Namgung Bi-ah’s movements, within those gaps, I could sense an unknown inner demon (심마 – Simma).

How could such an inner demon be mixed into the life of a woman whose sole existence was wielding a sword?

I found that somewhat questionable.

I recall the Sword Demon Empress from my past life.

Her goal was solely to see the tip of her sword, and there was no such thing as an inner demon on that path.

However, what could be the reason for such an inner demon being mixed within the current Namgung Bi-ah?

My eyes, having thought that far, turned towards Baekryeon-geom.

Baekryeon-geom, perhaps sensing my gaze, spoke to me sheepishly.

“What are you going to say?”

“I have no such intention.”

She would also know.

Right after Baekryeon-geom simultaneously faced Wi Seol-ah, Namgung Bi-ah, and Tang Soyeol.

That such an unknown change occurred in Namgung Bi-ah.

Did she feel something from the sparring back then?

Is that why she is experiencing such an inner demon?

Even if that were true.

‘…’

There was nothing I could do.

There was also no reason to blame Baekryeon-geom.

Rather, even…

‘Why do I feel relieved.’

Seeing Namgung Bi-ah afflicted with an inner demon, I felt worry and relief simultaneously.

Because she was someone who didn’t live a human life, chasing the tip of her sword in her past life.

Is it because her appearance, afflicted with an inner demon, seemed more human, making me feel like she was heading towards a different life than her past one?

‘Although it might not be good for her, who is directly bound by the inner demon.’

Namgung Bi-ah, struggling with her heart like that, was instead gifting me relief.

Furthermore, I also believed in her.

I believed she could overcome the inner demon without much difficulty.

Baekryeon-geom, looking at me, pouted as if displeased.

“I don’t like your expression.”

“Suddenly?”

“I don’t like the way you look at her, as if she’s commendable. Like the old…”

“Yes…?”

“No. Nothing.”

Why did she stop talking midway?

As I was exchanging a few more words with Baekryeon-geom.

Chaeng-!

With a piercing sound, the sparring between the two ended.

The result was as expected…

Woohyeok’s sword tip was touching Namgung Bi-ah’s neck.

She had lost.

At this, Namgung Bi-ah looked at Woohyeok with wide eyes.

After confirming that much, I turned my back.

Seeing me turn away, Baekryeon-geom called out to stop me.

“Huh? Where are you going?”

“I’ve seen enough, so I need to go wash up.”

“Is it okay not to go to that child?”

“There’s no need. It’s better to leave her alone for now.”

Her problem, if I were to intervene, I might be able to solve it for her, but.

I didn’t want that.

I wanted Namgung Bi-ah to overcome it herself and stand on her own.

I firmly believed she would.

The her I saw in this life could surely do that.

‘No, she could have done that in her past life too.’

The Sword Demon Empress could have done that too.

It’s just that I didn’t know.

Just as I was about to walk towards the valley.

From behind, Baekryeon-geom’s whispering voice could be heard.

“…She shouldn’t resemble this part too.”

“What did you say? Resemble whom?”

“No, nothing. Ah, if you want to wash up, I’ll wash you…”

“I don’t need that.”

I shot back at Baekryeon-geom in a disgusted voice and quickly left the spot.

That ajumma is definitely crazy.

Shaking my head, I disappeared towards the valley.

Baekryeon-geom, left alone, looked at Gu Yangcheon’s back, smiled bitterly, and whispered.

“She resembles her… too much.”

Her voice was full of longing.

---

Leaving Baekryeon-geom’s nonsense behind.

I headed towards the valley to wash my sweat-soaked body.

As I roughly took off my upper clothes, I felt the dampness of sweat.

Right after Gu Yeom Hwa Ryun Gong reached the 7th star, my body became one that wouldn’t sweat a single drop from normal training, but.

Day by day, sweat was flowing profusely.

It must mean the training is that difficult.

I frown, recalling the crazy old man orchestrating this training in my mind.

‘Crazy old geezer.’

Paejon was indeed a crazy human.

I didn’t feel it until he told me to break through the cave while performing Tuapa Cheonmu.

I only started to feel it after the second training session began.

I was sparring with Paejon every single day without fail.

Since I started night training with the Demon King, I thought I’d get some rest during the day, but.

“-Until I learn the first volume. I will spar every day.”

The sparring didn’t stop.

There was more to the problem.

‘Spar while performing Tuapa Cheonmu?’

It was absurd.

Even without it, I felt like I was about to faint from the pain, and that meant I had to get beaten up while using it.

‘And I’m doing it because he told me to.’

I twist my aching body here and there, letting out a hollow laugh.

As expected, it hurt unbelievably.

‘What a crazy martial art.’

Is it because the creator of the martial art was a lunatic?

The martial art itself was quite insane.

Just performing it entails pain, but.

If you get hit in that state, the pain doubles.

Paejon said it was because I hadn’t fully integrated with it.

Seeing this, I understood why Paejon told me not to use it in actual combat without permission.

‘If I got injured while using this.’

It wasn’t anything else, but my heart might have stopped from the pain.

When Paejon hit me, I wondered if this was right.

Thanks to that, I had to use all my mental energy just to endure the pain.

‘And at night… I’m supposed to play with the Demon King?’

Haha. This is ridiculous.

They might as well tell me to die.

If sparring with Paejon was pain.

Sparring with the Demon King was a nightmare itself.

‘That’s right. Nightmare. It’s a nightmare. Truly.’

Over the past month, since starting training with the Demon King, the number of times I died increased as time went by.

I died nine times on the first day, but now it easily exceeded twenty.

Isn’t this like the Demon King telling me something?

No matter how hard you try, you can’t reach me.

It felt like he was saying that.

Perhaps because of that, I feel quite mentally exhausted.

Because there seemed to be truly no way.

‘What am I supposed to feel from this kind of training?’

Paejon seems to hope I’ll realize something through this training, but.

I’m in a state where I can’t feel anything at all.

What am I supposed to realize after experiencing so many deaths?

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t know.

‘It’s difficult.’

As my insides grew tired, my body also felt tired.

So, I tried to ignore my head, which was getting tired from various thoughts.

I finally arrived at the valley.

Around the time I arrived, I saw someone coming out this way, perhaps having washed up already.

As soon as we met, my eyes widened.

“Hmm?”

“Ah.”

The other person was Wi Seol-ah.

Wi Seol-ah, whose hair was still wet as if she had just washed up.

“Young Master…!”

Wi Seol-ah, upon spotting me, smiled brightly.

That smile was particularly dazzling.

I recall Wi Seol-ah from back when she was a servant, facing me with her wet hair.

As soon as I recalled that, I approached her and wiped Wi Seol-ah’s hair with the towel I was holding.

“Huh? Y-Young Master? Eek!”

“Y-You should! Dry! your! hair! before! coming!”

If she went out looking like this, how many male gazes would be drawn to her? Where is she trying to go looking so unnecessarily alluring?

Why doesn’t she get better at this even as time passes?

Wi Seol-ah, who let out a small scream, seemed to like my rough touch and subtly leaned into it.

This is absurd.

“Do you like it?”

“Yes… I like it.”

“…Ah, I see.”

When asked teasingly and answered like that, I had nothing to say.

As I was drying her hair, something suddenly came to mind.

‘…Thinking about it, I should have just dried it with heat.’

If I expel heat, it’s fast, so why am I doing this?

As soon as I thought of it, I took back the towel and emitted heat.

Wi Seol-ah looked somewhat disappointed by the heat.

“Dry your hair properly and go. What are you doing?”

“I was just about to dry it…”

“That’s a lie, isn’t it?”

“…”

At my pointing out, Wi Seol-ah pondered and nodded slightly.

Wi Seol-ah was still the type who couldn’t lie.

Perhaps because she was pointed out. Seeing her somewhat dejected look, I chuckled and asked.

“Shall I give you some Yakgwa?”

“Oh…!”

Wi Seol-ah’s eyes sparkled at the mention of Yakgwa, but.

It was only for a moment before she quickly turned her head away.

“I, now… I’m not a child anymore.”

“What was that reaction just now?”

“I didn’t react at all.”

It seems she still likes sweet things.

But it’s strange why she pretends not to like them.

Seeing Wi Seol-ah like that, I smiled inwardly.

Because it felt like my mind, which was blocked by thoughts, was clearing up a bit.

Wi Seol-ah, looking at me, suddenly made a strange expression.

Ssk-

She carefully touched under my eyes.

Her hand was cold, perhaps because it had been in the water until just now.

“What’s wrong? Is something on your face?”

“No… It’s not that… Young Master. Are you okay?”

“Huh? What?”

“…You look very tired.”

Wi Seol-ah’s expression as she asked looked pitiful.

Hearing that, I was slightly surprised.

I look tired? Me?

‘Is it showing.’

No wonder everyone I meet asks if I’m not tired.

My expression must be strange somehow.

Realizing that, I forced a smile.

“I’m fine.”

“…”

Of course, Wi Seol-ah looked unconvinced.

‘What can I do? I just have to endure.’

If it’s hard, I endure. That’s all.

“It’s just that I’ve been having nightmares lately.”

“Nightmares?”

“Yeah.”

They are very terrible nightmares I have every night.

Even for me, so many deaths were a bit too much.

I’m tired.

Right now, that’s all I felt.

Then, I suddenly asked Wi Seol-ah, who was touching my cheek with a worried expression.

“You… No. Wi Seol…”

“Yes?”

I was about to call her, but suddenly closed my mouth tightly.

Why is it so difficult to call her by name?

“It’s nothing special… What do you think one should do if they have nightmares every night?”

What I brought up was a trivial question.

It was something unrelated to nightmares, yet.

Why would I ask something like this?

I just changed the subject because I was shy about calling her by name.

Not knowing what was going on inside me, Wi Seol-ah tilted her head repeatedly upon hearing the question.

Each time, her hair shimmering caught my attention.

“Nightmares…?”

“I was just asking, so don’t worry about it…”

“Wouldn’t they first try to wake up…? Because it’s a scary dream.”

At Wi Seol-ah’s words, I chuckled inwardly.

What she said was indeed correct.

If I knew it was a nightmare, I would have tried to wake up…

‘Huh?’

At Wi Seol-ah’s words, something suddenly flashed through my mind.

‘If it’s a nightmare, one must wake up.’

For some reason, those words struck me profoundly.