Chapter v16c9

### The Sword Empress Draws Her Sword

– The Unveiling of the Sword Empress’s Sword –

A hush fell over the crowd. No one dared to break the silence. Their attention was focused on the cloud of dust rising from the spot where Bi Ryu-yeon had been thrown.

Na Yerin, too, was speechless, stunned by the sheer power of the Sword Empress’s attacks.

“Sister Dokgo, do you think he’s really dead?”

Yi Jin-seol asked, her face pale with worry. Dokgo Ryeong, her one eye gleaming coldly, stared at the pile of rubble.

“If he were the type to die from that, he would have been killed a hundred times over by Yerin’s fan club. Or by me! I don’t think that cockroach-like man would die so easily. So have faith in him!”

She said, her hand resting on Na Yerin’s shoulder. No words were needed between them. Na Yerin understood her concern.

“S-Sister! Look!”

Yi Jin-seol exclaimed, pointing.

“See? What did I tell you? He’s as tenacious as a cockroach. But… maybe he’s better off staying down. I’m more afraid of what comes next!”

“Why?”

“Because at least that will prevent her from drawing her sword. Can you imagine how terrifying it is when she draws her sword? I can’t even imagine it. The moment her sword leaves its sheath… he’s dead.”

Dokgo Ryeong said, her voice trembling.

“Cough, cough! Ow… That was a bit much…”

A figure emerged from the dust cloud, coughing and groaning.

Bi Ryu-yeon was tougher than he looked. He wasn’t a fragile apple falling from a roof.

“Impossible! He’s still standing after taking my attacks…”

Was he bluffing? The Sword Empress couldn’t believe he was still on his feet, let alone walking. He must be more resilient than she thought.

Bi Ryu-yeon, emerging from the dust, calmly brushed the dirt off his black robes, his movements slow and deliberate. He was trying to project an air of nonchalance, as if the attacks hadn’t affected him at all.

“Whoa… That was close…! Really close!”

Crack, crack!

He stretched his neck and rolled his shoulders, his joints popping. The Sword Empress raised an eyebrow.

He ignored her and continued dusting himself off, then straightened up.

“Are you trying to kill me? I almost died!”

He said, his voice accusing.

It was true. Her attacks had been merciless, devoid of any compassion or restraint. She had intended to cut him down. He couldn’t have been mistaken. He would be dead if he hadn’t sensed her killing intent.

“You should be prepared to die in every duel. You have to be serious, as if it were a real battle. You can’t go easy on your opponent, even in a spar.”

She said.

“Really? You don’t seem like the type to lose control of your sword. Am I wrong?”

“We’ll see if you can dodge my next attack.”

It sounded like a threat.

“I wonder. But what will you use? It seems like you’re out of range.”

“What? What do you mean?”

“Look.”

Her eyes widened in shock.

‘When did he…? I didn’t even notice!’

Few could escape her notice. It was almost as impossible as surprising her. But he had done both.

Her silk veil, which she had been holding, was now in pieces, scattered on the ground like flower petals.

She had thought she had him completely overwhelmed… She had to admit she had underestimated him.

“Interesting! I admit it. You’re worthy of facing my sword.”

She said, a dangerous smile playing on her lips.

“Amazing. I can’t believe someone could do that to the Sword Empress…”

Do-seong exclaimed, impressed. He had not only survived three moves against her, but he had also forced her to draw her sword.

“I agree. But it might be his undoing.”

The Sword Saint said, his voice grave.

“Who trained him?”

“I don’t know. It’s hard to tell from his movements.”

“Should we stop them? This is getting dangerous.”

“It would be best, but who’s going to bell the cat? You?”

“What? Me? Interfere with her? No thanks! I want to live a long life.”

“What a coincidence. I was just thinking the same thing.”

“Hmm… It seems like we’re on the same page. Let’s value our lives.”

They decided to watch from a safe distance. It was the wisest course of action. She was especially dangerous when she was like this. She was a ticking time bomb. And they didn’t want to be caught in the blast. Even the Heavenly Martial Three Saints weren’t immune to her wrath. It was a matter of experience, not skill. So they chose to be cowards and watch from the sidelines.

Mo Yong Hwi, watching them, was baffled.

‘How afraid are they? Are they being blackmailed or something?’

He couldn’t understand it.

The Sword Empress looked down at the remnants of her silk veil.

“How long has it been since I last drew my sword?”

She often drew her sword to maintain its sharpness and prevent rust. But that wasn’t the same as drawing her sword for a fight. She had drawn her sword to teach her disciples, to train, to demonstrate techniques. But that wasn’t the same either.

‘When was the last time I drew my sword to kill?’

To draw her sword meant to have the intent to kill. It felt like a distant memory.

But now, she was about to draw her sword. With the utmost respect, with the utmost power.

“Can you dodge this?”

She placed her left hand on the hilt of her sword, preparing to draw it with perfect form and speed. The atmosphere changed instantly. She became one with her sword, her presence as sharp and dangerous as a drawn blade.

“Now it’s getting interesting.”

He felt a chill run down his spine. She was the most formidable opponent he had ever faced.

“You’re serious.”

“Of course! Are you afraid?”

“You’re funny! Alright! Kindness for kindness, malice for malice, and sincerity for sincerity! That’s my motto!”

*The Sword Empress’s Sword, Finally Drawn*

‘She’s actually drawing her sword…’

She had intended to go easy on him.

He was just a young junior.

It was absurd for her, the best swordswoman in the world, to be serious against a child like him. But her instincts were telling her otherwise.

“Alright! Let me see what you’re made of!”

Clang!

She drew her sword an inch, and a wave of cold air erupted from the pristine white blade. It was a chilling cold, mixed with killing intent, that rapidly enveloped the surroundings. The autumn sun dimmed, and the trees shivered.

“T-This is…!”

Mo Yong Hwi couldn’t believe his eyes. It was a warm autumn day, the sun high in the sky.

Winter was still months away. But Bi Ryu-yeon’s breath was misting in the air. The Sword Empress’s Qi had enveloped him, creating a pocket of winter around them.

“Qi… Qi is…”

Mo Yong Hwi stammered, his voice trembling.

“It’s distorting the atmosphere!”

It was a vortex of Qi, distorting the air, creating a whirlwind. It was separating their world from the rest.

It was said that a battle between masters was decided before it even began. The weaker one would lose their will to fight, overwhelmed by the stronger one’s killing intent and Qi.

“A winter blizzard… She’s manipulating nature with her Qi… She’s serious! Is he really that strong?!”

The Sword Saint muttered, his face grim. Do-seong nodded.

“Hmm! This is more dangerous than I thought. We might not be able to intervene.”

The immense Qi and presence of a master could alter the environment.

‘This incredible power… This is the true face of the Heavenly Martial Three Saints!’

Mo Yong Hwi felt a shiver run down his spine. He wasn’t the only one.

He felt a wave of fear, a desire to flee, a pressure on his mind. It was both exhilarating and terrifying to witness the power of someone so far above him. It was a reminder of his own insignificance, a potential source of both inspiration and despair.

“She’s defying the seasons… How is that possible?”

The Sword Saint glanced at his grandson, who was clearly shaken.

“Hwi, do you know the saying ‘The mountains and rivers share the same Qi’?”

Mo Yong Hwi, recognizing that his grandfather was about to impart some wisdom, listened attentively.

“Please teach me, Grandfather.”

The Sword Saint nodded. His grandson was a worthy student. He hoped he would learn something from this duel.

“The world of nature is interconnected, even though it appears to be separate.

Imagine a mountain overlooking a lake. They seem like completely different entities. ‘Water is water, and mountains are mountains.’ But is that really true?

The water from the lake evaporates, rises into the sky, forms clouds, and falls as rain on the mountain, nourishing the trees. The trees absorb the water, and the rest flows back into the lake through underground streams. This is just a simple example, but the same principle applies on a deeper level. It’s all possible because of the interconnectedness of nature. The mountains and rivers share the same Qi. They influence each other, exchanging energy. What the Sword Empress is doing is a more active attempt to connect her inner microcosm with the outer macrocosm.”

Everything in the world was connected by a single “principle.” It was possible to influence the surroundings through this intricate web of connections.

A powerful presence was proportional to the density of Qi, and in that sense, the Sword Empress’s presence was overwhelming.

If she said it was summer, it would be summer, even if it was winter. If she said it was winter, it would be winter, even if it was summer or autumn. This absolute power was the true face of a master.

Whoosh!

Her sword slid out of its sheath, smooth as a carp swimming through water. Her sword, after decades of slumber, was finally unsheathed.

“Did you see that?”

Dokgo Ryeong asked Na Yerin, her voice trembling.

“No, I didn’t. I couldn’t see anything. It was like a black curtain had fallen.”

“Even your Dragon Eyes couldn’t see it?”

Na Yerin nodded.

“They’re not omnipotent. They can’t create something out of nothing.”

The Dragon Eyes, a mystical ability to perceive the flow of Qi, the movements of yin and yang, the five elements, the eight trigrams. It was a gift from nature, a manifestation of the interconnectedness of all things. Some said that everything happened simultaneously, transcending past, present, and future. But even the Dragon Eyes had their limits. The more variables there were, the harder it was to perceive them.

It was impossible to read the movements of a master like the Sword Empress. Even if you could see them, your body might not be able to react in time…

But Bi Ryu-yeon had dodged her lightning-fast draw. Had he seen it? Or was it just luck…?

“Perhaps this duel… will have an unexpected outcome.”