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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Mod7
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Bi Wol’s Heart Demon was the embodiment of her original destiny.
The Heavenly Demon Star.
She was a consequence of author Han Dohyun’s creation, a variable caused by his meddling with her fate, a manifestation of the future that would have unfolded if he hadn’t saved her.
“Master…? How did you get into my mindscape?!”
Bi Wol looked back and forth between Bing Yeon and her Heart Demon, mortified. She wanted to bury her face in her hands.
How embarrassing, to have her master witness her darkest thoughts and desires! She had never imagined losing control like this.
“Did you think this master couldn’t find his own disciple?”
Bing Yeon chuckled, gently stroking her hair. His touch, both rough and comforting, sent a wave of warmth through her.
“Master, I apologize. I’m so foolish… I lost control…”
Heat crept up her neck as she remembered her embarrassing declaration of love.
“It’s alright. I should have realized sooner how much you were suppressing your emotions. So let’s fix this, together.”
“Fix this… together…?”
“You’re going to take over this spar.”
He smiled encouragingly.
It was important for her to overcome her Heart Demon on her own. If he intervened, it might resurface later.
“You mean… I have to kill that vile creature? Master?”
Bi Wol gripped the ice sword he had created for her. It felt surprisingly solid and heavy, even though it was made of ice.
“Yes. And I’ll be here to guide you.”
The fact that he had crafted this sword for her, just for her, filled her heart with a strange mix of determination and gratitude.
“Ahahahaha…!!!”
Her Heart Demon laughed maniacally, a chilling sound that echoed through the mindscape.
“I told you, good Bi Wol! I am you, and you are me!”
“…No, you’re not. You’re the darkness within me. The part of me that’s afraid of being unloved, that’s afraid of a world without Master.”
“What’s wrong with that? You love Master too! You care for him more than anyone in the world! What’s wrong with wanting to be with the person you love?!”
“The love Master taught me isn’t about hurting others.”
Bi Wol pointed her sword at her Heart Demon, her stance firm and resolute.
“…The world has fallen into darkness! How dare a child cursed with a destiny to kill her own master lecture me about right and wrong!”
The Heart Demon drew her own sword, a shadowy black blade that pulsed with a sinister energy.
“I am the Heavenly Demon, the Heavenly Demon Star! Let’s see if you can defeat me with your precious master by your side!”
Her voice and aura had become a perfect imitation of the Heavenly Demon from the original story. The ground trembled with each breath she took, and a wave of icy cold washed over the mindscape.
“I am Bi Wol of the Ice Dragon Blossom Heart Sect. I will defeat you and overcome my Heart Demon.”
Bi Wol stood her ground, refusing to back down, even though she knew her Heart Demon was stronger than her.
“I’ll use the Heavenly Demon’s Imperial Walk to close the distance, then strike at your dantian with the Heavenly Demon’s Blood Severing Strike.”
Killing intent, sharp and swift like lightning, shot towards her, but she stood firm, her voice steady as she declared her next move.
“No, Bi Wol. Use the Snow-Treading Without a Trace technique. The ground is covered in snow. If you rely on brute force, you’ll lose your balance.”
Bing Yeon corrected her. The Heart Demon clicked her tongue, annoyed that he was interfering.
“Follow my lead.”
Footprints appeared on the pristine snow, a trail leading through the treacherous landscape.
Bi Wol carefully followed his lead, dodging the Heart Demon’s attack.
“…I’ll deflect your attack with the Wudang Sect’s Tai Chi Wisdom Sword! Using the principle of ‘flow’ and the technique of ‘Grafting Flowers onto a Tree’, I’ll turn your attack against you!”
The air shimmered as her sword seemed to bend and warp, the tip now aimed at her own dantian.
“My dantian…!”
“The Grafting Flowers onto a Tree technique isn’t exclusive to the Wudang Sect, Bi Wol. Focus on the distorted space. Think about how you can manipulate it.”
Bing Yeon offered guidance, his voice calm and reassuring. The principle of redirecting an opponent’s force wasn’t limited to the Tai Chi Wisdom Sword.
It was also the core principle of the Heavenly Shifting Great Movement, a legendary technique passed down through the Ming Cult, said to have originated from Persia.
Shifting Heaven and Earth.
“I’ll use the Heavenly Shifting Great Movement to redirect your attack back at you!”
Bi Wol kicked at the incoming blade, her foot channeling a concentrated force that righted the distorted space.
“I’ll draw a second sword and attack with the Moyong Clan’s Twin Dragon Cyclone Sword! Prepare to be torn apart by the winds!”
The Heart Demon, realizing that one sword wouldn’t be enough, unleashed a twin-sword technique. Could Bi Wol possibly defend against a whirlwind of blades at such close range?
“Nine Heavens Demon Sword of the Heavenly Demon Art. I’ll spin and strike at your flanks.”
Bi Wol spun, her sword blurring as she tried to deflect the incoming blades, but she was overwhelmed.
“Bi Wol, if you spin without proper control, you’ll lose your balance. Lower your stance, bend your knees. You need a strong foundation to redirect your opponent’s force.”
A sharp gust of wind grazed her cheek, drawing blood. Bing Yeon quickly offered advice, guiding her.
He was like a master teaching a novice Go player, patiently pointing out the moves she had missed, expanding her vision.
“Have you no shame? Relying on your master instead of honing your own skills! Is this the true path of martial arts? Of chivalry?!”
The Heart Demon sneered at them, disgusted by their teamwork. She had achieved her strength through solitude, through relentless training.
Weak. Soft.
Immature. Unrefined.
Like a poorly crafted sword, full of flaws.
“The true meaning of ‘martial’ is to protect the weak. And ‘chivalry’ is the compassion we show towards them.”
But by Bi Wol’s side stood a master, a truly righteous man who embodied the purest form of martial arts.
“Bi Wol, that’s your darkness. Do you see the difference now that you’ve exchanged swords?”
“My wrist is unstable. My sword strokes are erratic.”
Bi Wol’s hand trembled. She couldn’t understand why she was so different from the person standing before her.
“That’s what she’s targeting. You’re still young and small. She’s trying to overpower you with brute force.”
Bing Yeon understood. Even though it was common knowledge in the martial arts world to be wary of women, children, and the elderly, they were physically weaker than a grown man.
“What should I do?”
“I need to match her pace and stay one step ahead. Observe her movements, her stance, and exploit her weaknesses…”
“No, Bi Wol. Focus on your own weaknesses. If you try to use fancy techniques without a solid foundation, you’ll only weaken your position.”
Bing Yeon shook his head, listening to her. It was true that to defeat a strong opponent, one needed to utilize even stronger techniques, but…
“The Heart Demon’s weakness is your weakness.”
This was a verbal spar, a battle of knowledge and understanding.
“This is a battle within your mindscape. The key to victory lies in understanding your own shortcomings.”
He patted her head, offering encouragement. This was the lesson he wanted her to learn.
To recognize her flaws and strive for improvement.
“She’s faster than you, and her stance is always balanced. Even if you try to stay ahead, you won’t be able to turn the tables on her.”
He was simply guiding her, helping her to see what she couldn’t.
“Then what should I do?”
“To control your sword strokes, straighten your wrist and distribute your energy evenly. A steady hand is the foundation of swordsmanship. Remember that.”
He adjusted her grip, her stance, molding her into a precise, controlled form, like a sculptor refining a statue.
“If you want to break through your limitations, master the fundamentals first. That is true innovation.”
Just like in a game of Go, mastering the basic strategies was essential before attempting bold and unexpected moves.
“Try the Heavenly Demon’s Blood Severing Strike again.”
“But I failed last time…”
“This time, combine it with kicks. Use your small stature and agility to your advantage. Even a Heart Demon has weaknesses.”
Even a trapped stone in Go could be used to achieve victory.
“Damn you…!”
“Master, I did it! What’s the next move…?”
Bi Wol’s kick landed squarely on her Heart Demon’s solar plexus. She staggered back, coughing up blood.
“…”
“…Master?”
Bi Wol looked at Bing Yeon, expecting further instructions, but he remained silent.
“I’ll use the Tenth Stance of the Heavenly Demon Art, the Heavenly Demon’s World Destruction, to annihilate you and this entire mindscape! Try to stop me if you can!”
The Heart Demon, seizing the opportunity, prepared her final attack. It was a technique Bi Wol had never seen or heard of before.
Fear gripped Bi Wol as she felt the wave of killing intent wash over her. Why wasn’t her master helping her?
Her hand trembled, her sword wavering. If she lost this spar, her Heart Demon would consume her entirely.
‘Master, Master, Master… Why aren’t you helping me…?!’
She repeated his name in her mind, a desperate plea for guidance. And as if in answer, she heard his voice, a soft whisper in her ear.
“Bi Wol, I can’t help you with this.”
Her eyes snapped open, and she saw something new, something beautiful, something that gave her hope: a full moon, shining brightly in the snowy sky.
A symbol of hope, a beacon of light in the darkest of nights, a celestial body visible even during the day.
“…I will follow your final teaching, Master.”
Bi Wol (飛月).
Her name was so simple, so elegant.
She tightened her grip on the sword, her fingers channeling her gratitude towards her master, distributing her energy evenly, straightening her wrist, and steadying her blade.
She lowered her stance, bending her knees, her weight balanced. She planted her left foot firmly on the ground, anchoring her body.
She controlled her breathing, inhaling and exhaling slowly and deeply, preparing to unleash all her power.
“I hate the heavens for abandoning me, but I’m grateful to them for bringing you into my life, Master.”
The tip of her raised sword seemed to gather all the sadness in the world, swirling and churning like a vortex of ocean water.
“What are the heavens? They’re immeasurable, just like a master’s heart. They encompass everything, a world unto themselves.”
She saw an opening.
A glimmer of light amidst the suffocating darkness.
Her vision expanded, her breath steadied.
She could see beyond the immediate threat, beyond the confines of the board.
“The snow falls cold and white, but it reminds us of warmth. The ocean, vast and all-consuming, offers respite from the summer heat.”
These were the lessons her master had taught her.
“And so, Master, I will cherish your teachings, I will love myself, and I will declare this with all my heart.”
She looked at her Heart Demon, her gaze unwavering.
“My name is Bi Wol.”
Heavenly Demon Art,
Eleventh Stance,
Flying Moon.
“I am the moon that shines upon Master’s boundless heart.”
Crack!
A circular wave of energy, sharp as a crescent moon, shot towards the Heart Demon.
“…Well done.”
Bing Yeon smiled softly, patting her head.
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Bi Wol (비월) literally translates to “Flying Moon.” The name emphasizes her connection to the moon and its imagery, which is often associated with femininity, grace, and cyclical change in Korean culture.
Her Eleventh Stance, also named “Flying Moon,” reinforces this connection, showcasing her evolved understanding of her identity and her place in the world, thanks to Bing Yeon’s guidance.
