Chapter v18c10

## Men Falling Like Rain

– Plop! Plop!

When was it? Na Ye-Rin’s gaze, fixed on a distant point as she leaned against the railing of the Moon Shadow Pavilion, drifted back in time, against the current of years, to a time when everything was painted in shades of gray.

* * *

The world, as seen through the eyes of a young girl, was a faded, ashen landscape.

From a very young age – even before the physical signs of womanhood began to emerge – Na Ye-Rin had been exposed to danger. Half the world posed a threat to her. Why? Because, unfortunately, half the world consisted of men. This might seem trivial, a simple fact of life, but for her, it was a serious problem. For some reason, men of all ages and professions were captivated by her at first sight. Not all of them, of course, but most men, lacking in self-control, were susceptible. It wasn’t her physical beauty alone it was something intangible, an irresistible aura that ensnared their souls in a fleeting moment. The tragedy was that she had never desired such power.

Why would it matter at such a young age? That was a naive and irresponsible question. Reality was far crueler and more perverse. To assume that youth and innocence offered protection was to underestimate the primal instincts and perversity of the male species. The world was a diverse place, and just as there was positive diversity, there was also negative diversity. After all, diversity meant a collection of differences.

Therefore, she was constantly exposed to danger, and to protect her from the men who desired her – in various ways – her father, the Murim Alliance Leader Na Baek-Cheon, decided to send her to the Sword Empress, to become a disciple of the Sword Pavilion, a sanctuary for women. The fact that this doting father, who couldn’t bear to be separated from his daughter, had made the decision to send her away, to a place where he wouldn’t be able to see her for years, showed just how serious the situation was. It was said that when they parted, Na Baek-Cheon had wept uncontrollably, earning a sharp glare from the Sword Empress. And afterwards, his “business trips” to the Sword Pavilion became more frequent. The Sword Empress found him to be a nuisance.

“Maintain your composure, Alliance Leader!”

It was her constant refrain whenever she saw him.

But even with these precautions, the threat wasn’t completely eliminated. The physical danger had diminished, but the psychological threat remained.

Dragon Eyes!

This extraordinary ability, too powerful for a young girl to handle, was eating away at her mind. What would happen to a fragile mind constantly bombarded by the most perverse thoughts and desires? It was no wonder she had closed off her heart. It was an instinctive defense mechanism, a survival tactic.

“…That’s her!”

“The one whose father is the Murim Alliance Leader…”

“But why would a precious daughter from such a noble family come to this remote place in the South Sea?”

“Who knows? I heard she was constantly threatened with kidnapping and other dangers. You know, because of…”

“Oh my, how scandalous! Did anything happen?”

“Nothing happened, apparently. But who knows? How can we be sure?”

“That’s true. But doesn’t she seem cold? Such a frigid expression for a child… Does she think she’s special because she’s pretty? Or because her father is the Murim Alliance Leader? I guess she looks down on us. How arrogant.”

“I know, right? Special treatment just because her father is the Murim Alliance Leader! It’s sickening.”

Countless negative thoughts, emanating from the deepest recesses of their hearts, flowed into the girl’s mind, contaminating her fragile psyche. She was still young, unable to control her abilities. They might have thought they were whispering in secret, but their dark thoughts flowed into her world like a raging torrent.

It was no exaggeration to say that she was constantly subjected to malicious glares and envious whispers. Human jealousy emitted a powerful negative energy, and it was too much for a young child to bear.

To make matters worse, her Dragon Eyes, an uncontrollable ability, amplified these negative waves tenfold. Her vessel, her young body, was too small to contain such power. Excessive power could shatter the vessel that held it. Her mind, like an unfired clay pot, was on the verge of collapse from the influx of negativity. And then, like a savior, Dok-Go Ryeong appeared.

“Oh my, you’re Ye-Rin? It’s so nice to meet you. I’m Dok-Go Ryeong, and I’ll be your bodyguard. Please take care of me.”

A white hand extended towards her, a bright smile as warm as the sun. That smile was like the dawn, bringing the first light to her gray world.

Dok-Go Ryeong complimented her beauty with genuine sincerity. Her extraordinary ability, a burden since childhood, allowed her to discern the truth behind people’s words, whether they intended to deceive her or not. She had received countless compliments, but behind them, lurking beneath the surface, were the dark emotions of jealousy and desire.

But Dok-Go Ryeong’s words were devoid of ulterior motives. She truly believed in her beauty, admiring and celebrating it.

For the first time, Na Ye-Rin felt that it was okay to be perceived as beautiful. And Dok-Go Ryeong smiled at her, a genuine smile untainted by falsehood. When everyone else rejected her, Dok-Go Ryeong accepted her.

At the time, Dok-Go Ryeong didn’t need a blindfold. She radiated vitality and the light of life. Looking at her, Na Ye-Rin felt envy for the first time. Dok-Go Ryeong possessed something she didn’t, something she might never have.

– And so, I gained a precious person, someone I could truly call “sister.”

Dok-Go Ryeong protected her, shielding her from envy and malice. She provided a cool shade, allowing her fragile vessel to dry and harden without cracking. Without that shade, the scorching sun would have dried her delicate vessel too quickly, leaving it cracked and brittle like a parched rice paddy. Words couldn’t express her gratitude. Dok-Go Ryeong was more precious to her than any blood relative. But now, Dok-Go Ryeong was missing, her whereabouts unknown, her fate uncertain. It was impossible not to worry, not to be anxious.

“Sister…”

She sighed, a long, drawn-out sigh escaping her lips. She felt foolish, helpless, unable to do anything but stand there, lost in thought.

And she hated it.

* * *

Winter had passed, and spring had arrived. Life was blooming, bursting forth from the cold embrace of winter, but true spring had yet to reach the face of a certain woman. A beautiful woman’s sigh possessed the power to shatter the hearts of countless men. It also had the ability to distort the very seasons. Spring might be in full bloom elsewhere, but this garden was still ruled by winter’s chill. The evidence was undeniable.

And then, a woman intruded upon this winter-bound spring garden. Dressed in pristine white, with a sword scabbard carved from pure jade, a white sword hilt, intelligent black eyes, and a dignified aura, she commanded attention. Men who insisted that the phrase “a commanding presence” should be reserved for men would be forced to reconsider their foolish claims upon seeing her. The martial world was filled with all sorts of people, and statistically, half of them were women, but only one woman possessed such a captivating presence. Embroidered on her chest was the Six-Winged White Swan, a symbol of soaring grace and elegance. The intruder was Lee Ok-Sang, the Sword Empress, the greatest female martial artist, and Na Ye-Rin’s master.

Lee Ok-Sang frowned as she approached the garden where Na Ye-Rin was. There were too many uninvited guests. And they were being rude, hiding their faces, their bodies cowering like thieves, their gazes darting nervously. They probably didn’t have the courage to show their faces anyway.

“Twenty-three, no, twenty-five.”

The two who had managed to evade her notice for even a moment were skilled.

One of them was Bi Yeon-Tae, the eternal honorary president of the Lovers of Young Ladies Club, but someone of the Sword Empress’s stature didn’t need to be aware of such trivial matters, the comings and goings of perverts in Jianghu.

They were all content to admire the moon from afar. None of them had the courage to approach her directly. She hated such lukewarm behavior.

“How pathetic!”

The Sword Empress declared.

She wasn’t kind enough to overlook their collective foolishness. No, her kindness was in putting an end to their pathetic display.

She stomped her foot.

Thud!

An invisible wave, like a ripple on a lake, spread outwards, forming concentric circles. A hemispherical barrier, ten zhang in radius, enveloped the garden. It was the Sword Empress’s sword barrier.

It originated from her mind, but the moment it materialized, the space within the barrier transformed into a realm where her will was absolute. At least when it came to swords. This meant that everyone within this sword circle was as good as dead. The fact that they were still breathing was a mistake, or perhaps a whim on her part, not a testament to their skills. She could kill anyone within this barrier without moving a muscle. She controlled the life and death of every living being within this space.

But no one reacted. Only Na Ye-Rin flinched. Their lack of response indicated their lack of skill. How could they remain so unfazed when their lives were hanging by a thread?

She infused her sword barrier with a hint of malice.

Sever!

It was killing intent generated solely by her will, but its power was terrifying. An invisible sword intent spread outwards. The next moment, her sword barrier transformed into a realm of death.

As her will activated, the sword in her heart – the Sword of the Heart – pierced through her mind.

“Ugh!”

The uninvited guests, hidden among the trees, jumped like startled sparrows, falling to the ground with undignified cries.

The Sword Empress’s will had cut them down. The only difference was that she had cut their minds, not their bodies. But the effect was significant, the result undeniable. For a master of her level, it didn’t matter whether the wound was physical or mental. Sometimes, mental wounds were far more devastating and debilitating than physical ones. Severe cases could result in madness or even a complete mental breakdown. Some even claimed it could lead to the annihilation of the soul, leaving the body a mere puppet, breathing but unresponsive to any stimuli.

But this time, she had only grazed them, a mere taste of her power, so they were only startled.

The men, sprawled on the ground, struggled to move their numb limbs, flailing like overturned turtles. It was a pathetic sight.

“Should I uproot all the trees so they have nowhere to hide?”

Apparently, there were no trees in ancient palaces. It was a desperate measure to prevent assassins from infiltrating. Protecting a peerless beauty was no less important than protecting the emperor. If the emperor died, the crown prince would simply ascend the throne. But who could replace a peerless beauty? In terms of rarity, a beauty was more valuable than an emperor.

“Fools!”

The Sword Empress glared at the men struggling on the ground.

“Get out! You’re not worthy!”

Like fish struck by lightning, the men scrambled to their feet and vanished with incredible speed. None of them were foolish enough to disobey her.

“Pathetic flies.”

Her assessment of the pesky flies she had swatted away was colder than the north wind. But that was before she turned her gaze to Na Ye-Rin.

“Rin-ah, you’re here?”

Her expression softened.

“Disciple Na Ye-Rin greets her master.”

Na Ye-Rin bowed, trying to compose herself. But the grief that had accumulated was too deep, too heavy to be easily dismissed.

“Tsk, tsk, where is your spirit? It’s good to have emotions. They enrich life. But don’t let them consume you.”

The Sword Empress knew that human emotions, like a calm lake, could suddenly transform into a devastating tsunami, swallowing everything in its path.

“You are not defined by your sadness. Don’t lose yourself.”

“I understand, Master.”

But her disciple, still distrustful of the world, lacking in self-love, hadn’t yet established a sense of identity. That was why the Sword Empress constantly challenged her with questions, hoping to guide her towards self-discovery. But now, her disciple was once again succumbing to anxiety, unsure of what to do, hating her own helplessness.