Chapter vv15c6

* Interlude – Nightmare *

The moon hung in the starry sky, a halo of mist surrounding it.

It was a deep night.

People dreamed different dreams beneath the silvery moonlight. Sleep, it seemed, was a fickle mistress, favoring some and shunning others.

“Gasp!”

Dokgo Ryeong sat up in bed, her heart pounding, her breath ragged. She threw off the covers, her body drenched in sweat. She had been having a nightmare.

“Why… why am I dreaming about that again…?”

It was a nightmare she never wanted to relive.

“Ugh!”

A sharp pain shot through her left eye. She bit her lip, pressing her hand against it. It felt as if a red-hot poker were being jabbed into her eye socket.

She wanted to forget. She wanted to stop hurting. But the memory was too vivid, too deeply ingrained in her soul.

“Master…”

The face of her master, who had always treated her with kindness and love, appeared in her mind. She lowered her head, tears welling up in her eyes. She missed her master so much.

The remnants of the nightmare clawed at the wound in her heart.

* Act 2, Scene 1 *

“So you’re Ryeong, from the Dokgo Clan. You’re a bright child. Welcome! I’m Yi Ok-sang, and I’ll be your master from now on.”

It was a beautiful voice, as gentle and soothing as a goddess’s.

‘This… this is…!’

A shiver ran down the young girl’s spine. She was in the presence of her idol, the woman she had worshipped from afar. She was so overwhelmed with emotion that she couldn’t even speak. Yi Ok-sang smiled at her, her eyes filled with kindness.

“What are you waiting for? Kneel and bow.”

Dokgo Ryeong’s father, Dokgo Yeong-hong, the current head of the Dokgo Clan, said. She snapped out of her trance and bowed deeply.

Three bows to the portrait of the Sword Clan’s founder. Three bows to the portrait of the previous Sword Empress. And three bows to her new master, Yi Ok-sang. Nine bows in total.

Dokgo Ryeong was nine years old.

That day, she became a disciple of the Sword Clan.

A young woman danced on the beach, her movements graceful and fluid, her black hair flowing like silk in the wind. Her face still retained a hint of childishness, but her body was blossoming into womanhood, her curves alluring.

She was a flower in full bloom, her beauty radiating youth and vitality.

As her dance intensified, beads of sweat glistened on her forehead, scattering like jewels in the air. Her lips were curved in a bright, cheerful smile, as radiant as the sunlight that danced on the waves.

With every swing of her sword, the sand beneath her feet swirled, forming intricate patterns.

It was a phenomenon known as the “Sword Wind Trace,” a testament to the power flowing from her blade. She was still young, but her skill was undeniable. She danced, lost in the moment, her movements as graceful as a goose soaring on the wind. A white goose with two wings was embroidered on the left breast of her robe.

She loved the sword. She loved the gleam of its blade, the whisper of its edge as it cut through the air. And she loved the feeling of freedom, of transcendence, that she experienced when she wielded it. She could practice swordsmanship forever.

She wished this moment could last forever.

She didn’t need fancy clothes, expensive jewelry, or handsome men. All she needed was her sword.

She often lost herself in her practice, and sometimes, she wished she could stay that way forever. That’s how much she loved the sword.

And then,

Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!

She turned towards the sound of applause.

Her eyes fell on the emblem of a white goose with six wings.

The Six-Winged Flying Goose!

Only one person in the Sword Clan was allowed to wear that emblem.

She dropped to her knees, bowing deeply.

“M-Master!”

It was Yi Ok-sang, the Sword Empress, one of the Three Stars of Cheonmu, the strongest swordswoman in the world.

She was over a hundred years old, but she looked no older than a woman in her mid-forties. Her face was elegant and refined, her hair as black as night. Was it some kind of secret technique, or just incredibly good makeup? Or perhaps she had discovered the secret to eternal youth?

Her appearance alone was a testament to her mastery of martial arts.

“Ryeong, you’ve improved so much. Your swordsmanship is no longer hesitant. And you wield your sword with such joy. It’s a pleasure to watch.”

“Th-Thank you, Master!”

The young girl was overjoyed by her master’s praise. Yi Ok-sang was not one to give empty compliments. If she said Dokgo Ryeong had improved, then she had truly improved. Dokgo Ryeong felt tears welling up in her eyes.

The Sword Empress smiled, her eyes filled with kindness.

“Hohohohoho! You’re still so young, to be so moved by an old woman’s praise.”

Her laughter was as refreshing as a spring breeze, as invigorating as the sea air. It was hard to believe she was over a hundred years old. She looked younger than Dokgo Ryeong’s own mother, who was only in her forties.

“Your Small Goose Sword is precise, and your Flying Goose Sword is powerful. To achieve the state of ‘Sword Intoxication’ at such a young age… I’m impressed!”

To receive praise from the Sword Empress was a great honor for any swordsman.

The Sword Clan had two introductory sword techniques: the Small Goose Sword and the Flying Goose Sword. Only after mastering these two techniques could a disciple be considered for instruction in the clan’s secret techniques. Those who failed to demonstrate their aptitude were denied access to the clan’s true teachings.

The secret techniques were secret for a reason. They were not meant for everyone. To force them on an unprepared disciple would be like trying to fill a small cup with too much water. It would only spill and break.

“Perhaps the time has come.”

“Th-Then…”

Dokgo Ryeong’s face lit up with anticipation.

“Yes, it’s time for you to learn the secret technique of the One Thought Jade Bell Divine Sword. Train hard. I’ll be watching.”

“R-Really?”

The Sword Empress nodded, indulging her beloved disciple.

“Th-Thank you, Master!”

Dokgo Ryeong was ecstatic. Her heart pounded with excitement.

She had been waiting for this moment, dreaming of this day, for so long.

Not every disciple who was registered in the Sword Clan’s records was granted access to the secret techniques. It was a privilege reserved for a select few.

Like all the other disciples, Dokgo Ryeong had trained hard for this day.

She was still in a daze, watching her master’s retreating figure. Even after the Sword Empress had disappeared from sight, she remained standing there, as still as a statue.

“Yaaaaaaaaaaay! Woohoo!”

A moment later, a joyous scream echoed across the beach.

A flock of seagulls, startled by the sudden outburst, nearly had heart attacks.

But the story of their near-death experience remained a secret, a hidden tale of nature.

* Act 2, Scene 2 – The Sword Clan – Guardians of Guanyin *

There was a mountain called Mount Putuo in the South Sea.

– To be more precise, it was located in the southeastern sea, but it was commonly referred to as the South Sea, so let’s stick with that.

Mount Putuo.

It was a sacred Buddhist site, located on an island in the Zhoushan archipelago, off the coast of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.

It was one of the Four Sacred Mountains of Buddhism, along with Mount Wutai, Mount Emei, and Mount Jiuhua.

It was named after Potalaka, the legendary abode of the bodhisattva Guanyin, located in southern India. According to legend, a Tang dynasty monk was carrying a statue of Guanyin from Mount Wutai when his ship suddenly stopped at this island. He built a temple there, enshrined the statue, and the island became a sacred site.

And it was here, on this island of Guanyin’s manifestation, that the Sword Clan was located.

The Sword Clan.

A sanctuary of swordsmanship, located at the foot of Mount Putuo, inhabited only by women.

A strictly forbidden zone for men.

It was far from the center of the martial world, and it rarely interfered in worldly affairs. But no one dared to underestimate it. It was the home of Yi Ok-sang, the Sword Empress, one of the Three Stars of Cheonmu, the most respected figure in the martial world.

But even without the Sword Empress, the clan’s swordsmanship was unmatched. Many a man had learned the hard way that true swordsmanship transcended gender. The clan’s ability to produce swordswomen of such caliber was a testament to its true strength.

Many people in the martial world mistakenly believed that Mount Putuo Temple was the Sword Clan. It was a dangerous misconception. It seemed that in the early days of the clan, when its disciples were still relatively unknown, they had answered the question, “Where are you from?” with “Mount Putuo.” And since the South Sea was so far from the center of the martial world, few people had actually visited it, so the misconception had taken root.

But the Sword Clan was not Mount Putuo Temple.

They were located in the same place, and there was a lot of interaction between them. (It seemed that there had been a close relationship between the two groups for generations.)

But to equate the two was a grave error. They were two distinct entities.

Mount Putuo Temple was a religious site, while the Sword Clan was a martial arts clan. Many religious groups in the martial world, like the Shaolin Temple, had martial arts elements. Or perhaps it was more accurate to say that no group that possessed martial power could be truly free from the martial world. But not all religious groups were martial arts clans. It was impossible without a certain level of skill. And the founder of Mount Putuo Temple seemed to have had no interest in martial arts.

Furthermore, Mount Putuo Temple was dedicated to the bodhisattva Guanyin.

Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion.

Her name in Sanskrit was Avalokitevara, which meant “the one who perceives the sounds of the world.” She was also known as Guanzizai, which meant “the one who perceives freely.”

Guanyin listened to the cries of the world, while Guanzizai observed the world with compassion. They were essentially the same being. It was a matter of personal preference which name you used.

She was also known as Guangshiyin, Guanshiyin, Guanzizai, Guanshizai, and Guanshiyinzai. She was often referred to simply as Guanyin.

So what was a bodhisattva?

A bodhisattva was a being who was dedicated to helping others achieve enlightenment. Guanyin was the bodhisattva of compassion, who saved and guided all beings with her boundless love and mercy.

She must have had incredible hearing and eyesight, to be able to hear the cries of the world (most of which were probably nonsense) and to observe everything (even though there wasn’t much worth seeing)!

The people of Mount Putuo Temple worshipped this compassionate being. If you asked them if they were skilled in swordsmanship, they might be offended, saying that it was inappropriate to ask such a question of those who worshipped the compassionate Guanyin.

So why had this misconception arisen?

It had to do with the origins of the Sword Clan.

Mount Putuo Temple, as one of the Four Sacred Mountains of Buddhism, attracted many pilgrims and devotees, and it received a steady stream of donations and offerings. Combined with the income from its own landholdings, its wealth was considerable.

But as the saying went, “Too much is as bad as too little.”

Excessive wealth attracted unwanted attention. And Mount Putuo Temple was no exception.

Furthermore, its location, an island surrounded by the sea, limited the profession of its uninvited guests. Mount Putuo Temple had been raided by pirates on numerous occasions, its treasures and food stolen. The navy was powerless against the elusive pirates. If it hadn’t been for the help of the nearby martial arts clans, Mount Putuo Temple would have been stripped bare long ago. But the clans could only spare so many men. And the navy was unreliable at best.

The pirate raids continued. And then, a woman rose up in anger. Her name was Yi Ok-min, the founder of the Sword Clan and the first Sword Empress.

She was the daughter of a martial arts family, and she was renowned for her beauty and her swordsmanship. She was also a devout follower of Guanyin. It was said that she never forgot Guanyin’s teachings.

After learning a secret sword technique from a reclusive master in the South Sea, she felt that it was her destiny to protect Guanyin. She gathered disciples and founded the Sword Clan. Mount Putuo Temple, of course, welcomed her with open arms and pledged its full support. It was a dream come true for the temple, which had no real means of defending itself.

And so the Sword Clan was born. But it wasn’t officially called the Sword Clan until much later. In the early days, most of its disciples were also disciples of Mount Putuo Temple. So it was understandable that the two groups were often confused.

Perhaps for this reason, most of the Sword Clan’s disciples were devout followers of Guanyin. And ever since Yi Ok-min, the first Sword Empress, the leader of the Sword Clan had been known as the Guardian of Guanyin, the protector of Mount Putuo Temple. If Mount Putuo Temple was the land of Guanyin’s manifestation, then the Sword Clan was the land of Guanyin’s protection.

And to this day, the Sword Clan continued to protect the sacred site of Guanyin with its swords.