—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: cynoLive well without me
—————————————————————–
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
“Now, please draw your sword.”
At my words, she, who had been weeping uncontrollably, struggled to calm herself and drew her sword.
The blade, sharp and cold, pointed directly at me.
Of course, having seen it countless times before, it only seemed endearing to me.
“Sniff, sob… Th-thank you…”
“I am your servant. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
As I spoke, I picked up a tree branch.
Truthfully, I could summon a sword without needing a physical one, but revealing that would expose my identity as a Sword Saint, so I refrained.
The branch was about half the length of Jin Gayoung’s sword, but she still looked visibly tense.
“But… how will you help me win?”
“Just give me a week. A week is all I need.”
“Even though we’re both at the peak, the gap between Bi Hwa and me is like heaven and earth… Can a week really make a difference?”
“Don’t worry about that. Just trust and follow my guidance.”
“Since you say so, I believe you.”
“Think of me as Bi Hwa. I will teach you Bi Hwa’s weaknesses, habits, and martial arts in their entirety.”
“That’s amazing. I can’t believe that’s possible.”
“…”
In the countless cycles of regression, Namgung Soso was one of the people I fought alongside the most, aside from Okhwa and Shin Seung.
I knew her martial arts and every detail about them inside and out.
One might say I should feel guilty, but as “Byeokrak,” I will act for Jin Gayoung.
At least until she discovers my true identity and casts me aside.
This is my repayment to her, who once again made me feel warmth.
“Then, let’s begin.”
“Yes… Please take care of me. Hehe… I succeeded in sparring with my benefactor…!”
As Jin Gayoung muttered something incomprehensible, I respectfully bowed and then swung my branch.
At first, I used about 80% of Namgung Soso’s physical abilities.
Swish!
The branch swept through the air, rushing toward her.
Jin Gayoung quickly raised her sword to defend, but the branch slid along the blade and touched her neck.
The attack flowed like a stream, smooth and unrestricted, causing Jin Gayoung to look slightly surprised.
Tap.
“This is the first move of the Hidden Sword Technique, ‘Plum blossom.’ It’s a move that neutralizes the opponent’s defense and strikes their weak point. It’s the foundation of the Bokryong Sword Technique, which has many deceptive moves.”
“Ah… I think I understand…”
“And this is how Bi Hwa uses ‘Plum blossom.'”
I retracted the branch and swung it again.
This time, it wasn’t as fast, so Jin Gayoung could clearly see it and tried to cut the branch by rotating her sword.
A good choice.
It seems she quickly figured out how to counter ‘Plum blossom.’
Indeed, she didn’t earn the title of ‘Sword Flower’ for nothing.
However.
Whoosh!
“Huh?”
Tap.
“This is how Bi Hwa often uses it.”
“How did you do that just now?”
“When you tried to cut it, I pulled the branch back. That made your sword cut through empty air, and then I thrust again.”
“That’s…!”
“Yes, it’s a counter to the counter of ‘Plum blossom.’ Bi Hwa often uses these two methods together. Against those who don’t know ‘Plum blossom,’ she uses the standard move to pierce their throat. Against those who try to counter it, she uses her own method to step back and then thrust again. It’s simple but effective.”
Jin Gayoung nodded as if she understood.
Her expression showed genuine comprehension, not just polite agreement.
If she can understand this so easily, perhaps her talent is even greater than I thought.
“Now, try it yourself.”
“Me?”
“Trying out the opponent’s sword technique yourself is the best way to find its weaknesses and vulnerabilities.”
It’s true.
The reason I tried to learn the Blood Sea Sword Technique of the Blood Demon and the Heavenly Demon’s Divine Sword was the same.
Though I never succeeded.
“And I should show you how to counter both methods.”
“Ah… Yes! I’ll try!”
Jin Gayoung gripped her sword, closed her eyes, and muttered something before charging at me with her blade raised.
Not shouting a battle cry is a good habit.
Tap.
I met her sword with the branch.
Since I wasn’t trying to cut it, there was no force behind it.
Clink.
Using the principle of ‘Chakgeom,’ I took control of her sword.
Though Jin Gayoung was holding the hilt, her sword was now within my domain.
Swish!
I spun it around three times, causing her body to spin as well.
When she was sufficiently off balance, I lifted the sword.
Whoosh!
Like a fish caught on a hook, she followed the motion and floated into the air.
Jin Gayoung, suspended in mid-air, looked bewildered, as if under a spell.
Thud.
I caught her in my arms instead of letting her fall.
My right arm supported her shoulder, and my left arm held her knee, creating an awkward embrace.
“So, how was that?”
“Ah, ah… I… I don’t know…!”
Jin Gayoung’s face turned bright red.
I stared at her curiously, and she turned her head away, avoiding my gaze.
“What don’t you understand?”
“I… I don’t understand anything…!”
“Was it hard to grasp? Indeed, using both ‘Yu’ and ‘Chak’ principles simultaneously isn’t easy.”
“I… I think I can do it if I try again!”
It’s unlikely she could master it after just one more try, but Jin Gayoung clenched her fists and insisted eagerly.
Her enthusiasm was admirable.
“Is that so? Then I’ll show you again.”
I took my stance again and faced Jin Gayoung, who charged at me with ‘Plum blossom.’ I responded exactly as before.
Tap. Clink. Swish! Whoosh! Thud.
Despite her bold words, Jin Gayoung once again lost her balance and flailed in the air before falling into my arms.
She seemed to have relaxed a bit more this time, or maybe it was just my imagination.
“Ah… Ah… Don’t look at me like that…!”
“Shall we go again?”
“…Yes, if it’s not too much trouble… Please…”
For a while after that, Jin Gayoung repeated the movements to counter Namgung Soso’s Bokryong Sword Technique’s first move.
Each time, her face grew hotter, probably from the exertion of training.
—
“Ugh!”
Finally, Namgung Soso vomited the food she had eaten at the banquet.
“Why… why is this happening…?”
Even asking herself, she couldn’t find an answer.
Since the Taiyuan Jin family arrived earlier in the day, or more precisely, since she saw the masked man stepping out of their carriage, this strange trembling and nausea had persisted.
“Ugh…”
Her hands shook, and her heart wouldn’t stop pounding.
She couldn’t calm her breathing, and her face kept burning.
“Ugh…!”
The discomfort was unbearable, but she couldn’t stop thinking about that man.
Even with her eyes closed, the image of him holding the Sword Flower in the carriage kept resurfacing.
It wasn’t as if a famous artist had painted her eyebrows, but…
“Ah… Haah, haah.”
Her mind wouldn’t calm down.
Grabbing her familiar sword, she swung it wildly, which helped a little, but it was only a temporary fix.
The moment she stopped, the strange sensations returned.
Thump, thump…!
It hurt.
Her chest, her heart, her mind—everything hurt so much.
It was unbearable, to the point where she wanted to collapse, clutching her heart and crying.
Clang!
Finally, she dropped her sword as if throwing it and slumped to the ground.
‘This… feels just like back then.’
A long time ago, when she had feelings for her brother, Namgung Cheolbin.
Well, she hadn’t completely moved on, so it wasn’t that long ago, but the trembling and fluttering she felt then was now overwhelming her again.
The same madness she felt when she couldn’t be apart from him, even for a moment.
“Haah…”
Even as she sat on the ground, sighing deeply, her heart remained uneasy.
She wanted to see that masked man again.
Who was he, and why was she feeling this way?
She had to find out.
“No, I need to find out.”
Whatever this strange phenomenon was, she couldn’t let it continue.
She had training to do and a path to follow. She couldn’t let these trivial emotions hold her back.
She had to uncover his identity, reveal the face hidden behind that white mask, and understand why she was feeling this way.
And she had to end this strange phenomenon.
She couldn’t continue living as a martial artist if she was distracted like this.
With that conclusion, Namgung Soso looked around.
As if searching for something urgently.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, she found it soon enough.
“There, there he is…!”
On the outer path of the Hangsan Sword Sect.
Walking along that path were two pale figures.
The masked man and the Sword Flower of the Taiyuan Jin family.
“What… what should I say to him?”
Should she ask who he was?
But he was wearing a mask for a reason.
If he would reveal his identity just by being asked, he wouldn’t be wearing a mask in the first place.
‘But… what’s his relationship with the Sword Flower?’
At first glance, they seemed like a bodyguard and his master, but there was a more intimate, affectionate atmosphere between them.
But if they were lovers, it was strange that they weren’t holding hands while walking together.
‘Ugh…’
Whatever it was, it was uncomfortable.
Just watching from afar.
So she ran.
Like a man bewitched by a fox, she ran wildly.
She even used her rarely-used light footwork to clumsily sprint toward the outer path.
“……!”
Somehow, she managed to get within three steps of the man, but…
‘What… should I say to start a conversation naturally?’
Normally, she could easily come up with an answer to such a simple question, but…
Strangely, her mind went blank, and no thoughts came to her.
Just like when she stood before her brother in the past.
“Young master, you have exceptional talent. Don’t belittle yourself too much.”
“No, there are many people in the world far greater than me.”
Amidst the warm atmosphere, they were getting closer.
If she didn’t act now, they would pass her by.
‘Ah, no…!’
In her desperation, Namgung Soso impulsively jumped forward.
Then, facing the four eyes staring at her sudden appearance, she awkwardly smiled and spoke.
“D-did you have a good meal…?”
It was the first thing that came to mind, but she thought it was a decent enough greeting.
In response, the Sword Flower bowed her head, letting her black hair flow down, and replied.
Very politely.
“Yes, we are overwhelmed by the hospitality of the Hangsan Sword Sect. Did you enjoy your meal, Lady Bi Hwa?”
Given the atmosphere, she should have said, “Yes, I ate well. Haha,” and ended the conversation nicely, but she didn’t want to.
She didn’t want to part from the masked man beside the Sword Flower.
So she answered honestly.
With a response that would prolong the conversation, allowing her to stay near him a little longer.
“Unfortunately, I didn’t eat well.”
“Oh? Was something wrong?”
“My stomach was upset. I’m not usually like this, but today I felt shivery and unwell.”
While talking to the Sword Flower, Namgung Soso glanced at the masked man.
Now that he wasn’t wearing a hood, his hair was visible—short, silver hair that revealed his ears, tinged with a grayish hue.
It was hair she had never seen before.
Yet, it felt strangely familiar.
As if she had longed for it for a long time.
Thump, thump…!
Her heart began to beat even stronger than before.
The same bittersweet pounding she felt when he stepped out of the carriage returned.
The man’s mask was facing her.
Meanwhile, the oblivious Sword Flower continued the conversation.
“Oh, we happen to have some medicinal herbs with us. We should give you some.”
“Ahaha… Th-thank you.”
She felt it was a waste to spend this precious time talking to the Sword Flower.
She wanted to use every moment to look at the masked man.
Her ticklish heart continued to unsettle her.
“Then we’ll be on our way. We’ll send the herbs to you tomorrow.”
They were leaving?
But she hadn’t even seen the masked man’s face yet.
“Ah, no, wait…”
“We’ll take our leave now. Enjoy your walk.”
“W-wait!”
She quickly grabbed the Sword Flower, who was bowing and about to leave.
No, more accurately, she grabbed the wrist of the masked man standing behind the Sword Flower.
Knowing it was impolite, Namgung Soso tightly held his hand and didn’t let go.
“…What do you want?”
A rough, gravelly voice came from the masked man.
“…! Your voice…!”
“I know my voice is strange. So please, tell me. Why are you holding my master’s hand?”
“W-well…”
She couldn’t bring herself to ask if they could talk alone, a topic far beyond the current conversation.
Instead—
“W-what is your name, sir…?”
Even though he called the Sword Flower his master, implying he was of lower status, the title “sir” naturally slipped from her lips.
“…”
“Sorry, sorry! I was too rude! I mean… what I wanted to say was…”
“…Byeokrak.”
Namgung Soso, struggling to steady her trembling voice, stopped mid-sentence at the sudden, iron-like voice.
“Byeokrak. That’s my name.”
“Byeokrak… is it…?”
“That’s all. We’ll be going now.”
“Ah, ah… W-wait…!”
“Lady Bi Hwa! See you tomorrow!”
The Sword Flower and the masked man named Byeokrak left.
Namgung Soso stood there for a long time after they left.
The sensation she felt when she grabbed Byeokrak’s wrist—cold like a blade yet strangely warm.
It was an irresistible, almost addictive feeling, like forbidden magic.
“Haah…”
Her knees buckled, and she naturally knelt on the ground.
She had been so tense that her legs gave out.
Byeokrak, huh…
What a good name, she thought unconsciously. Aside from Cheolbin, there was no name better than that.
—
Meanwhile.
The leader of the Hangsan Sword Sect, having finished the banquet, returned to his office and glared at the man before him.
The man, with a thick beard and burly muscles, was Wang Sabang, the leader of the Wangsa faction, the largest underworld group in Shanxi Province.
“Sect Leader! How could you do this to us!”
Wang Sabang shouted in frustration.
Having just returned from eating, drinking, and enjoying the festivities, the Hangsan Sword Sect leader frowned, exhaling the scent of alcohol, and replied.
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re cutting this month’s payment! How are we supposed to live like this!”
“It’s just for this month, not forever. The sect is tight on funds this month.”
“Sect Leader! After all the dirty work we’ve done for you, this is how you repay us!? If it weren’t for us, you wouldn’t have made that money!”
“Enough. It’s not like we’re never paying you again. We’ll discuss this later.”
Like most business partners, they were in conflict over money.
However, since the other party was the leader of one of the Nine Great Sects, Wang Sabang had no choice but to back down.
“Sect Leader… You’ll regret this.”
But this time, his retreat was different from usual.
“Go now, I’m tired. *Yawn*—I need some sleep.”
Wang Sabang’s eyes burned with anger.
“…Even a worm will squirm when stepped on.”
“You’re not a worm, you’re a man. Act rationally.”
“…”
“*Yawn*—”
As the Hangsan Sword Sect leader yawned nonchalantly, Wang Sabang quietly left the room.
In his heart, the leader of the Hangsan Sword Sect was already a cold, lifeless corpse.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
[Your Text Here]
