Chapter 709: Divine Dragon Martial Arts Festival.

Around the time Tang Soyeol could still count the number of times she died.

To Tang Soyeol, drenched in cold sweat, the Dark King said.

“Do you know what you fear the most?”

Master of the Night.

King of Assassins.

Tang Soyeol lifted her head at the question from the man closest to death.

What I fear the most?

“…Is it death?”

Death.

The end of life.

The Dark King, maintaining his characteristic blank expression, replied to her words, thinking that might be it.

“Incorrect.”

The punishment for the wrong answer was harsh.

Syeok-!

Tang Soyeol’s neck was severed by the dagger swung by the Dark King.

Tuk-!

The moment her severed head hit the ground.

“Huk…!”

She woke up again, as if it were all a hallucination.

“Huk… Huk. Heueuk…!”

The Dark King looked at Tang Soyeol, sobbing in terror, and said.

“You’re still lacking.”

“Wait…!”

Starting with those words, she died a hundred more times.

Afterward, Tang Soyeol lost her expression.

She no longer sobbed in fear.

But.

“I’ll ask again. What do you think you fear the most?”

She still couldn’t know the correct answer.

Death wasn’t frightening.

Therefore, death was not the answer.

Then what could it possibly be?

Tang Soyeol couldn’t answer even then.

“Not yet.”

The Dark King nodded.

Syeok-.

Death repeated once more.

How many more times did she die?

She couldn’t even count anymore.

She thought she counted up to five hundred, but she stopped counting after that.

It was just a repetition of questions and answers.

“Do you know?”

She answered that she didn’t know.

She experienced death again.

“Do you know?”

She felt like she vaguely knew.

But because it wasn’t complete, she kept reaching death.

“Do you know?”

She didn’t know how to answer, but she learned many other things.

Where to stab a person to kill them instantly.

Conversely, where to stab them so they wouldn’t die but only feel pain.

She didn’t study.

Through countless repetitions, she memorized it automatically.

However, she still couldn’t answer the Dark King’s question.

The number of times was uncountable.

Around the time death had become dull and meaningless.

“What a shame.”

The Dark King, in his usual voice, brought up something else to Tang Soyeol.

“It’s taking longer than I expected.”

“…”

Did he mean her answers were slow?

Tang Soyeol, with her dead eyes, looked at the Dark King.

The Dark King’s face was expressionless, but strangely, disappointment could be felt within it.

“Will you give up?”

“…No… I won’t… I… I can do it…”

The Dark King often urged Tang Soyeol to give up.

Each time, Tang Soyeol replied that she could do it.

She couldn’t give up on this too.

This was the only chance left for her.

If she lost this too, she’d rather just die for real.

“Hmm.”

Hearing Tang Soyeol’s reply, the Dark King seemed to ponder for a moment.

“Very well.”

“From now on, exactly ten times. If you cannot find the answer within that time…”

The Dark King’s dagger pierced Tang Soyeol’s heart.

Since the pain no longer mattered, Tang Soyeol slowly began to lose consciousness again.

“I will kill Gu Yangcheon, whom you cherish so dearly.”

“…!”

Amidst it all, Tang Soyeol clung to her consciousness as the voice pierced her ear.

“Geureuk…”

Blood flowed.

Her eyes flashed open amidst death.

“What… did you just say…”

“You’d better find the answer. You don’t have many chances left.”

Despite Tang Soyeol’s words, the Dark King’s expression showed he wouldn’t listen.

Thus, hell began.

“Do you know?”

She had already tried every possible answer.

What else was left?

In this situation, Tang Soyeol had few options.

“Young Master Gu isn’t involved…! Why!”

“That is not the answer.”

The dagger lodged in her head, leading to her death.

“Please… please… Don’t touch him. I, I’ll find the answer somehow… Or, or I’ll do anything. Please…!”

She tried persuading him, tried begging while holding his leg.

Each time, his answer was the same.

“I’ll kill you…! If you touch him, I’ll kill you!”

She desperately swung her dagger and charged at the Dark King, but.

The result was the same.

“I’m telling you I’m right! I, I’m clearly afraid of this–!”

Nothing worked.

Thus, eight chances were used up.

Then came the ninth time.

“…Heuk… Heueu…”

She tried desperately to recall the answer.

It wasn’t death, nor despair.

It wasn’t poverty, nor sacrifice.

Then what could it be? She grew anxious.

It didn’t matter if she died tens or hundreds of times.

But he couldn’t.

He shouldn’t be involved in this.

Kku-u-uk!

Blood dripped from Tang Soyeol’s clenched fist.

She had clenched it so tightly that her nails dug into her flesh.

‘Please, please, please… Please!’

She didn’t feel the pain.

Tang Soyeol looked at the Dark King with eyes whose capillaries had burst.

She had to find the answer.

What was the answer? What answer would satisfy the Dark King?

What on earth did she fear the most?

Tang Soyeol repeated it endlessly.

Even amidst this, the Dark King slowly approached Tang Soyeol.

He knelt down halfway.

Then, he met Tang Soyeol’s gaze.

“Do you know?”

A question she must have heard thousands of times.

And again, the same question.

Tang Soyeol’s pupils trembled madly.

This time too, she ultimately failed to answer.

It felt like no matter what answer she gave, it wouldn’t reach him.

“Yes, it seems you don’t know.”

The Dark King slowly began to move his dagger again.

Watching the dagger slowly extend towards her, Tang Soyeol thought.

What is it that she fears right now?

It’s neither death nor pain.

Is she afraid of losing Gu Yangcheon? Yes.

She is afraid.

Then, is what she fears losing someone precious?

Or perhaps.

‘Am I afraid of myself, unable to do anything while he is lost?’

Herself, unable to offer any help while he fades away.

Herself, unable to do anything while he is lost.

Isn’t that what she fears?

Just as such a thought crossed her mind.

U-ttuk-!

The Dark King’s dagger, which was about to slice Tang Soyeol’s neck, also stopped.

“I’ll ask again.”

The question reached her.

Tang Soyeol, trembling uncontrollably, looked at him.

“Do you know?”

“…”

The same voice, the same question.

The fear of loss. Crushed by it, Tang Soyeol blurted out without realizing it upon hearing the question.

“Helplessness…”

The helplessness of being unable to do anything.

As she spoke the word, tears flowed from one eye that hadn’t yet turned green.

Yes, what she feared was helplessness.

Not death, not pain. Just the base emotion accumulated inside.

That must be it.

“Hmm.”

Hearing that, the Dark King retrieved the dagger he was holding.

“Is that your fear?”

At the Dark King’s words, Tang Soyeol’s eyes widened.

“Is this… is this the answer?”

The situation was incomprehensible.

If it was helplessness, she had already uttered it thousands of times when she died.

She must have said it countless times.

She had tried saying it with similar meanings, and even said it exactly like that before.

Yet, back then, the Dark King killed Tang Soyeol, saying it wasn’t the answer.

Why was he backing down now?

To Tang Soyeol’s questioning look, the Dark King said.

“Saying it without knowing and realizing it are different.”

The difference between realizing it and not.

What could the difference stemming from that possibly be?

The Tang Soyeol of that time didn’t know.

By the time she understood what the Dark King had said, her eyes had turned green.

Only then did the Dark King finally permit Tang Soyeol to descend the mountain.

---

“What… What is that?”

“What is that?”

The spectators were murmuring about what had happened on the martial stage.

A few seconds after Dang’s sect’s Poison Dart and Yu Tan Sword began their match.

Everyone was taken aback by the sudden black barrier that filled the space above.

What is that? Is it a martial art?

Unable to discern its nature, even the referee outside the stage repeatedly debated whether or not to intervene.

Then.

Sa-aaa-!!

The black barrier, which had lasted for about a minute, disappeared.

The figures of the two people inside were revealed again.

“Huh.”

“Hmm?”

Those who confirmed this reacted with surprise.

The two were still on the stage.

Surprisingly, they were both unharmed, without a scratch on each other.

Had they not fought at all?

Just as such a question arose.

“Keok-heok-!”

Suddenly, Yu Tan Sword coughed up blood and knelt down.

“What–!?”

“Yu Tan Sword collapsed?”

“Oh no…?”

Everyone was shocked.

It was an unexpected situation.

Everyone had naturally expected Poison Dart to lose, yet Poison Dart merely stared calmly at the collapsing Yu Tan Sword.

“Keuheu… cough… cough!”

Yu Tan Sword continuously coughed up blood, spilling it.

Despite having no external injuries, Yu Tan Sword was grimacing as if in great pain.

Tang Soyeol opened her mouth towards the struggling Yu Tan Sword.

“Just four times.”

“…!”

At Tang Soyeol’s words, Yu Tan Sword’s face filled with fear.

“You couldn’t even endure it four times.”

“You… You bitch!”

“Stop exaggerating. I even let you go out of pity because you were begging and clinging to me?”

“What kind of sorcery did you use!”

“Who knows.”

At Yu Tan Sword’s desperate cry, Tang Soyeol let out a faint smile.

Seeing that smile, Yu Tan Sword’s body stiffened.

What did I just experience?

As he tried to recall, his body trembled uncontrollably.

It should have been something he experienced just moments ago, yet the memory was strangely hazy.

All that remained was a lingering terror.

Yu Tan Sword wasn’t properly aware of his own condition.

In such a situation.

“Snap out of it, Senior.”

Tang Soyeol spoke to him.

“It wouldn’t be fun if I ended it like this. I let you off easy because I couldn’t show you anything. Just to make you tense up a bit.”

Her smile was beautiful, but Yu Tan Sword no longer found her merely pretty.

His wariness spiked.

Fear, rather than fighting spirit, began to envelop his body.

“…You monstrous… bitch.”

The curse slipped out before he knew it.

However, it seemed to have no effect on Tang Soyeol.

“Thank you for the compliment. So, are you not going to continue?”

Geugeugeuk-!

At her taunting words, Yu Tan Sword channeled energy into his sword.

An unknown fear momentarily seized his mind, but still, Yu Tan Sword was a martial artist of the Hwagyeong realm.

He could suppress such emotions anytime.

Barely regaining his composure, he said to her.

“I don’t know what trick you pulled, but if it didn’t work, you’re finished.”

If it had worked, she should have finished him right there.

Since she didn’t, that woman must have no hope.

Thinking so, Yu Tan Sword powerfully unleashed his energy.

“Huk!”

Clear and refreshing sword energy permeated his blade.

Yu Tan Sword swung it directly at Tang Soyeol.

Pa-aaaa-!!!

Star-Piercing Gleaming Slash (彈星飛瑛斬).

A beautiful inner energy formed from sword ki rapidly flew towards Tang Soyeol.

It was the technique that earned him the nickname Yu Tan Sword.

Unlike its beautiful appearance, like a flying crescent moon, the destructive power contained within was on another level.

Kwagagag-!

The slashes swept across the stage as they flew.

Seeing this, Tang Soyeol tilted her head.

It was an action that reminded her of someone.

And then.

Hwak-!

“…!”

Just before the slash hit, Tang Soyeol’s figure momentarily vanished from Yu Tan Sword’s sight.

‘What…?’

Where did she disappear to in this empty space? Yu Tan Sword urgently tried to sense Tang Soyeol’s presence.

“Really.”

Tang Soyeol’s pleasant voice sounded right in front of him.

No, slightly lower than face-level.

Towards his lower body.

Yu Tan Sword immediately lowered his gaze and tried to move his sword again, but.

“I need to use this for the next person too. What am I supposed to do if you ruin the stage like this?”

Tang Soyeol was faster than that.

As she spoke, she swung her arm and drove her fist into Yu Tan Sword’s side.

Ku-uung-!

“Kkeup!?”

Even though he had donned his protective energy, the attack penetrated deep into his waist.

Pa-ang-!

Unable to block the entire impact, the shockwave erupted, sending Yu Tan Sword flying.

Kwa-ang-!

With a tremendous noise, Yu Tan Sword rolled across the floor.

Tung-! Tung-!

His posture collapsed.

Forgetting the pain, Yu Tan Sword tried to regain his stance somehow, but.

A small foot was already flying towards his eyes.

Ppa-ak-!

Along with intense pain, Yu Tan Sword’s head shot upwards.

“Keo-heok!”

His protective energy shattered along with his teeth.

The strength was far too great to have come from such a delicate body.

His vision wavered.

Beyond it, Tang Soyeol’s movements were visible.

Kung-! Kung-kung-! Kung-kung-!

Small fists rained down upon Yu Tan Sword’s body.

Fast and agile movements.

Energy permeated the fists, and tremendous sounds echoed consecutively.

When Yu Tan Sword tried to move his legs to escape, she struck his thigh to block him.

When he tried to swing his sword, she hit his shoulder to immobilize his movements.

She wasn’t predicting his trajectory and striking preemptively.

Clearly, Tang Soyeol started her movements later than Yu Tan Sword.

But how was this possible?

‘Th-this… how…’

As he confirmed the reason, Yu Tan Sword’s world collapsed.

The principle was simple.

It was simply because Tang Soyeol was faster than Yu Tan Sword.

Much faster.

There was no need to predict his movements.

Just faster counter-actions.

As a result, Yu Tan Sword was beaten all over his body as if he were a scarecrow.

Kung-kung-kung-! Kung-kung-!

What was even more terrifying was that Tang Soyeol was controlling her energy.

“Ku-heok!”

So that Yu Tan Sword wouldn’t collapse easily.

She was applying just enough force to prevent him from passing out.

To onlookers, it looked like she was playing with him.

Yu Tan Sword, one of the Hundred Great Masters of the Central Plains.

He was being treated like a toy by Poison Dart, merely a late-stage disciple.

Seeing that sight, no one in the audience could react properly.

“…Poison… Poison Dart… how…”

“I can’t believe it… What on earth is happening?”

It was a dreamlike scene.

Moreover, if it were a dream, it would be a nightmare.

A long time passed like that.

The ceaseless screams of Yu Tan Sword and the sounds of his body being pummeled finally stopped.

A silence descended upon the scene.

On the stage, Yu Tan Sword, now almost a bloody mess, was barely holding on, his hair grasped by Tang Soyeol.

“Kkeu-eu… Heueu…”

Sluurrr. Drip. Drip. The blood flowing from Yu Tan Sword soaked the stage floor.

Tang Soyeol watched it calmly, then let go of his hair.

Kung-! Teol-seok-!

Yu Tan Sword, who had been holding on, collapsed onto the floor.

Then, Tang Soyeol stepped on his face.

“…You got blood all over me. How vulgar.”

Blood stained the back of her hand.

Tang Soyeol casually took out a cloth from her robes and wiped it clean.

“Heok… Keureuk… Heueu…”

Yu Tan Sword groaned beneath her foot.

Confirming this, Tang Soyeol smirked.

“Now you finally look the part.”

Crawling on the ground suited him particularly well.

She hadn’t liked his face from the start, but now it was somewhat presentable.

He was exhausted, utterly spent, barely breathing.

Tang Soyeol removed her foot from Yu Tan Sword and lowered her posture.

She squatted down, closing the distance to Yu Tan Sword, and whispered into his ear.

“From now on… live according to your station. Don’t covet things beyond your level. Understand?”

As she spoke, she lightly stroked his face with her white fingertips.

At that touch, Yu Tan Sword’s body trembled as if spasming.

“…”

“…”

It was obvious the match was over.

However, cheers could not be heard.

All that could be heard were Yu Tan Sword’s faint breaths.

Tang Soyeol soon stepped away from him and moved forward, only then did the referee flinch and react.

“Uh… uh.”

Seeing that, Tang Soyeol didn’t even wait to hear the result.

She had somewhere else to head to right now.

The young man who had been watching her from the entrance.

She turned towards him and waved enthusiastically.

“Young Master-nim! I won!! Praise me! Hehehe!”

Unlike her brutal beating of her opponent, her smile was pure and bright.