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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: cyno
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Hangsang Sword Sect.
“Junior Sister, you’re still training?”
“Take it easy. Lately, you’ve been overdoing it.”
From the early hours of dawn, the sound of a sword slicing through the air echoed through the training grounds.
The woman wielding the sword had sharp, chiseled features, keen eyes, and a strikingly angular swordplay style, which made her appear even more formidable.
Yet, despite her cold demeanor, her breathtaking beauty and the distinct Cheongan (azure eyes) of the Namgung Clan captivated the hearts of many male disciples of Hangsang Sword Sect.
Not that she cared for any of them.
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you seem like you’re carrying a grudge. Is something bothering you?”
“……Could you just leave me alone?”
The woman’s first words of the morning carried a heavy weight of negativity.
“Soso, aren’t you holding onto too much anger? I understand how you feel about your brother, but if you let this consume you, you’ll only destroy yourself. You need to control your rage.”
“I said, just leave me alone. Why are you so obsessed with not letting me be?”
“…Alright. Just try to calm down and train at your own pace.”
The man pestering Bi-hwa Namgung Soso finally gave up, stepping away with a grumble.
“She’s got her walls up so high. With that face and body, she still doesn’t have a man? Tsk, tsk. Meanwhile, her brother was screwing around with every woman he could get his hands on. Talk about night and day.”
Hearing that, Namgung Soso halted her sword practice and lowered her head.
The familiar surge of grief swelled up within her, threatening to suffocate her once again.
Her brother, Namgung Cheolbin.
One of the Five Supreme Masters of the Martial World, the undisputed strongest in all of Murim.
The man who defeated the Blood Demon in a battle that lasted seven days and seven nights.
The man who, with mere words, convinced the Heavenly Demon and the Guangming Sect to retreat from Zhongyuan.
A hero without equal in the thousand-year history of the martial world—The Sword Star, Namgung Cheolbin.
But now—
“That bastard got expelled from the clan? Good riddance.”
He had become the disgrace of the Namgung Clan.
The villain of the entire world.
And she, who had once harbored forbidden feelings for him, now felt utterly wretched.
She had loved him.
Loved him so much that the thought of him being with another woman, having a child, was unbearable.
So unbearable that she had abandoned the Namgung Clan’s sword arts and joined the Hangsang Sword Sect just to escape it.
Yet, he had betrayed and trampled on that love.
“If you’re going to marry and have a child, then at least be happy.”
“At least live a life that makes my sacrifice worth something.”
“…Bastard.”
With gritted teeth, she resumed her sword practice.
Gone was the Chang-gung Mu-ae Swordplay of the Namgung Clan—what remained was the Hidden Dragon Sword Technique of the Hangsang Sword Sect.
Her blade traced elegant arcs through the air, each stroke a seamless extension of her body.
The disciples who had come to train early in the morning found themselves frozen, mesmerized by the sheer beauty of her swordsmanship.
Wuuuuung—!
The moment she imagined Namgung Cheolbin standing before her, a sword aura flared to life from her blade.
From the carriage, a young woman emerged.
She had long, flowing black hair that rippled like waves and golden eyes that gleamed like molten sunlight. Dressed in a refined yet practical blue silk robe, she exuded an air of effortless elegance and strength.
The moment she stepped out, all eyes were on her.
It was Jin Ga-young, the Sword Flower of Tae-won Jin Clan, a rising force in the martial world.
Her beauty was legendary, often spoken of in the same breath as the most celebrated beauties of the past. But more than that, her skill with the sword had placed her in contention for a place among the Seven Rising Stars of the Martial World.
Despite the imposing presence of her twenty-strong escort, her gaze held calm confidence, scanning the gathered disciples without the slightest hint of intimidation.
Namgung Soso swallowed hard.
“She really is stunning…”
Even though she had told herself that appearance was the last thing that mattered, seeing the so-called next unparalleled beauty in person made her feel… strange.
But before she could fully process her emotions—
A second figure stepped out of the carriage.
A man.
And the moment Namgung Soso laid eyes on him, her heart stopped.
“No…”
Short, unkempt black hair. A rough, slightly overgrown beard. Tired, sunken eyes that carried the weight of exhaustion.
His clothes were plain and without embellishment, but the way he carried himself, the undeniable presence—
It was him.
“No, no, no… It can’t be—”
The moment she saw his face, her blood ran cold.
Even as her mind screamed in denial, her body reacted before her thoughts could catch up.
“Y-you…!”
Namgung Soso’s sword was already in her hand, its tip aimed directly at his throat.
The air around her shook as her sword aura flared to life.
The disciples gasped in shock at the sudden hostility.
Jin Ga-young’s expression froze for a brief moment before shifting into guarded alertness.
And the man—
The man who should not be here—
The man she had tried so hard to erase from her heart—
Namgung Cheolbin—no, Byul-rak (Lightning)—
He simply… smiled.
A small, quiet, worn-out smile.
Like someone who had expected this all along.
Namgung Soso forgot to breathe for a moment.
Thump.
Her heart sank.
It felt as if lightning had struck inside her mind.
A man stepped down from the carriage.
He was tall and lean, his physique well-proportioned. A black headscarf covered his hair, and a white mask concealed his face.
She had never seen such a mask, nor such attire before.
It was only natural—he had emerged from the Tae-won Jin Clan’s carriage, a place she had never been part of.
And yet, why?
“Wh-why…?”
Her face grew unbearably hot.
Her chest pounded wildly, far more intensely than before.
It was their first time meeting—it had to be.
She hadn’t even seen his face. All she had to go on was his clothing, the shape of his body beneath the fabric.
Yet—
“Hngh… Ugh…!”
Her eyes burned red, her breathing became erratic.
Her mind blurred, and her vision spun.
A familiar scent clung to the air around him.
She couldn’t quite place it, but it was nostalgic, deeply bittersweet.
“Wh-what’s wrong with me…?!”
The man, now fully out of the carriage, reached back inside.
With grace, he extended his hand, and a woman took it, stepping down with effortless elegance.
She had long, flowing black hair, with soft waves that fluttered gently in the breeze.
Her jawline was smooth and delicate, her nose like that of a small squirrel—perfectly formed, subtle yet present.
And her eyes—large, round, and golden like twin drops of sunlight.
Everything about her was in perfect harmony.
Without a doubt, this was the most beautiful woman Namgung Soso had ever seen.
If people called her the future unrivaled beauty of the martial world, then Namgung Soso could only agree.
And yet—why?
Her most important opponent, her potential rival, stood before her.
A woman renowned as the most beautiful martial artist of her generation was right there.
And yet, her eyes kept drifting away.
For some reason, she found herself staring at the man beside her instead.
She couldn’t stop watching him as he carefully supported the Sword Flower, helping her down with practiced gentleness.
She couldn’t stop watching as he knelt down to put her shoes on for her, his movements precise and composed.
Why couldn’t she look away?
“Lady Jin! Welcome!”
The head of the Hengshan Sword Sect stepped forward to greet their guests.
Jin Ga-young inclined her head slightly in response.
“I, Jin of the Tae-won Jin Clan, greet the Dragon Fang Sword Master.”
It was a single sentence, yet her voice was as delicate and clear as the morning dew, leaving a deep impression on all who heard it.
The men of Hengshan, excluding Namgung Soso, reacted as if they’d met their ideal woman, barely able to contain their excitement.
The sect leader chuckled warmly, unbothered by their enthusiasm.
“Ho ho, no need for such formalities. I am but an old man.”
At the same time, he sent a whispered message directly to Namgung Soso through internal transmission.
—Focus and watch carefully. She’s undoubtedly here to challenge you. Stop getting distracted by someone else.
Snapped out of her daze, Namgung Soso forced herself to refocus on Jin Ga-young.
Of course, she couldn’t help but keep glancing at the masked man standing beside Sword Flower.
—
###
Since the arrival of the Tae-won Jin Clan at Hengshan Sword Sect, a grand feast had been taking place.
The gathering of the greatest veteran force of Shanxi and its rising star was a significant event, and the sect leader of Hengshan couldn’t resist the urge to show off his sect’s wealth and influence.
Before Sword Flower could reveal her true purpose for visiting, he aimed to assert dominance by overwhelming them with hospitality.
“Come! Everyone, have another drink!”
The large ceremonial cups were continuously filled and emptied.
And in the end, the one who should have remained sober—the sect leader himself—was the first to get completely drunk.
“Cheers!”
“Cheers—!!”
Of course, no one rebuked him for it.
Regardless of the hidden intentions behind the feast, a celebration was still a celebration.
The atmosphere was relaxed, filled with drinking, eating, and merriment.
Sip—.
Amidst it all, Namgung Soso remained silent, merely picking at her food and nursing her drink.
The feast was extravagant, the dishes were rich, and the aroma of sizzling, oil-dripping delicacies filled the air.
But she couldn’t eat.
Something felt off.
Who was that man?
That masked man standing behind Sword Flower, like a silent guardian, like a motionless statue—who was he?
Why did he make her feel so uneasy?
Why did it feel like there was something caught in her throat, making it impossible to swallow?
“Keh! Cough! Cough!”
She suddenly choked, coughing violently as something thick lodged in her throat.
It was phlegm.
The realization struck her like lightning.
A grandmaster of internal energy, someone who had reached the pinnacle of martial arts, should never suffer from something as trivial as phlegm buildup.
How did this happen?
“Are you alright, Soso?”
“Here, have some water. You don’t look well.”
“I—I’m fine… cough.”
She barely managed to respond.
The masked man, his face hidden behind fabric, remained still.
She couldn’t even see his expression, yet…
Just being in the same space as him made her body tremble.
She quickly scanned the room to see if anyone else was reacting the same way.
Nothing.
Everyone else seemed perfectly fine.
Was he deliberately exerting pressure on her with an invisible force?
No—she couldn’t sense any internal energy coming from him.
It wasn’t qi suppression.
And yet…
‘Why am I feeling this way…?’
Was it overtraining?
That seemed possible.
She had been training far too intensely lately.
Or perhaps… it was because she had finally received confirmation that her brother had been expelled.
Maybe that lingering turmoil was affecting her body.
“Haa… My face feels hot.”
An indescribable emotion surged from deep within her.
She felt hypersensitive.
If someone so much as brushed against her, she felt as though she might explode, lashing out with harsh, unrestrained words.
“Ugh…”
If she stayed any longer, she feared she might vomit in front of everyone.
She staggered to her feet, preparing to leave the banquet hall.
Grip—.
Just as she was about to step away, a firm hand grasped the hem of her robe.
It was the sect leader of Hengshan Sword Sect.
Despite appearing drunk, he had not been intoxicated in the slightest.
He had merely pretended to be inebriated, lulling the Jin Clan into a false sense of ease.
– Wait. There is something important I must discuss. The timing is just right.
“…Ugh.”
Thud.
Sweating profusely, Namgung Soso reluctantly sank back into her seat.
As if waiting for this exact moment, the sect leader of Hengshan rose from his seat, lifting his cup.
“The atmosphere is just right—so let me ask the Tae-won Jin Clan a question.”
Jin Ga-young responded in a slurred, drunken voice, feigning the effects of the alcohol.
“What is i~t? Ask away~~.”
“The true reason behind your visit to Hengshan Sword Sect—what is it?”
“The true… reason?”
“If you have forgotten, allow me to make a guess.”
Clearly uninterested in whatever Jin Ga-young had to say, the sect leader ignored her and continued his speech.
“My assumption is that the real reason behind your visit is—”
“Ye~~es?”
“You have come to propose a duel between our Soso and Lady Sword Flower—is that not correct?”
A direct, piercing question.
Ordinarily, asking something so bluntly would have been discourteous.
But under the pretense of intoxication, the sect leader cleverly used the drunken atmosphere as an excuse to pry into their motives.
Even if it caused offense, he could simply brush it off later as a drunken slip of the tongue.
“Is it not because you intend to defeat her and claim the title of ‘One of the Seven Blossoms’?”
A well-planned move—but Jin Ga-young had single-handedly revived a declining clan.
Her foresight and strategic mind were already far beyond his.
Without a single change in expression, she murmured lazily, seemingly lost in a drunken daze.
“That’s not it~~.”
“…What?”
“I have no~~ interest in fighting Lady Bi-hwa. I don’t care~~ about the Seven Blossoms title, either.”
“Ahem. I—I see. Then it seems I have misunderstood…”
Realizing his assumption had been completely off the mark, the sect leader coughed awkwardly, trying to cover his mistake.
Jin Ga-young, watching him flounder, smiled bitterly.
Of course, only on the inside.
—
###
The cool night air brushed against her cheek.
Both my body and mind feel refreshingly light.
For so long, I carried the weight of an unshakable burden, a heaviness in my heart as if a massive stone had been pressing down on my chest.
Yet, to think that having just one person by my side could make me feel this liberated…
Jin Ga-young—this person must possess some kind of mystical charm.
—
“Mister, what are you thinking about?”
“Nothing.”
“Oh, come on. Tell me. What’s on your mind? Are you regretting not eating anything at the banquet earlier?”
“That’s not it.”
“Really? I was worried you might be hungry, so I brought this for you.”
Jin Ga-young reached into her robe and pulled out a paper-wrapped drumstick.
The rich seasoning glistened under the moonlight, filling the night air with a sweet and savory aroma.
“Thank you.”
I took the drumstick and began to eat, bite after bite.
Since it was just the two of us here, I removed my mask without hesitation.
As I ate, I could feel Jin Ga-young quietly watching me.
For a fleeting moment—
Her eyes glistened with sorrow.
—
“What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
“No… I just feel… sad.”
Suddenly, she buried her head against my chest, tears welling up in her eyes.
Though I hadn’t expected this, I wasn’t flustered.
Instead, I gently ran my hand over the back of her head, stroking her hair in comforting silence.
—
“You see… there’s someone I truly love.”
Her voice trembled.
“Someone I want to protect… Someone I want to dedicate my entire life to….”
“To love someone is a wonderful thing.”
“That’s why I’ve worked so hard. I’ve trained endlessly—only sleeping for one hour a night. I thought I was finally strong enough, but…”
“You are strong, my lady. Especially for someone only eighteen years old.”
“No, it’s not enough. At the very least, I need to become one of the Seven Blossoms. I need to reach that level to ensure that I don’t become a burden to him… Did you see Bi-hwa at the banquet earlier?”
The moment she uttered Namgung Soso’s title, my ears twitched involuntarily.
Right… I had nearly forgotten.
My younger sister was also one of the Seven Blossoms.
Meanwhile, Jin Ga-young’s tears dampened the front of my robe.
I hadn’t realized before.
She always carried herself with maturity, always exuded an air of confidence.
Yet, here she was—a girl who cried easily.
—
“Actually, the sect leader of Hengshan was right… I came here to fight.”
She sniffled between words.
“I came here to challenge for the title of one of the Seven Blossoms.”
“I thought I was finally ready…”
“You are more than capable. Even if another Seven Blossom stood before you, you would not falter.”
“…I don’t know. The energy that Bi-hwa radiated… It terrified me.”
Her fists clenched as she trembled.
“To be honest… I felt a wall between us. The gap is still too wide.”
“I have so far to go, yet I need to help him now. I can’t let him continue suffering alone. I want to take on all his burdens for him… I want to stand by his side.”
—
With those words, her crying intensified.
Is she weak?
No, far from it.
She simply wants too much, too soon.
For example, even Namgung Soso hadn’t reached the level of a supreme master at her age.
She was only impatient.
—
“…Do you truly wish to become one of the Seven Blossoms?”
“Yes… sniffle… I want to be of help to him as soon as possible… I don’t want him to suffer alone anymore…”
“Shall I help you?”
“…What?”
“I will help you defeat Bi-hwa.”
“If you desire it, I will ensure that you surpass her.”
—
I feel guilt toward Namgung Soso.
If given the chance, I would like to do right by her.
But now, my liege is Jin Ga-young.
If I train Jin Ga-young, Namgung Soso will lose her title.
She will be stripped of her honor as a martial artist.
Unless she defeats another Seven Blossom in the future, the blow will be severe.
—
“You… You really mean it?”
But what does it matter?
I have abandoned Namgung Cheol-bin.
I am Byeorak now.
To truly live a new life, I must sever all past ties and embrace renewal.
A new life is never granted easily.
—
“But… but won’t it be too much for you…?”
More than anything…
“I don’t want to trouble you, mister. I don’t want to burden you with something you don’t want to do…”
She is the only one who still cares for me.
Even if she sees me as Byeorak and not Namgung Cheol-bin, it doesn’t matter.
She is the only person in this world who treats me with kindness.
—
“My lady’s happiness is my own.”
She is the only person who has given me warmth.
The only one who has planted a seed in my barren soul, watering it with her presence.
For her—
For her alone—
I would gladly devote myself to anything.
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