Chapter 104 Sword Saint-1

Chapter 104 Sword Saint-1

All matters concerning the Naga family were resolved satisfactorily.

Ma Mengyun, who arrived with Bi Saying, truly demonstrated medical skills worthy of being the son of the esteemed elder.

He treated the wounded and Lady Na’s father, even offering hopeful words that her father would soon regain his health.

Madam Min and her son, Na Seohwang, who had fled alone to escape Cheolgwi, did not return.

Of course, since I made it that way, it’s only natural that there’s no turning back. But the people of Nagajang, unaware of that, were speculating that perhaps they couldn’t return because they too had some sense of shame.

I decided to just stay silent.

“Then I’ll see you all in a few days. Be careful on your way back.”

After Ma Mengyun declared that Lord Nagajang’s health would fully recover if he just took good care of himself, we—all except Lady Na—finally decided to return to the front lines.

It had been only five days since we arrived here.

However, I, the young lady, decided to stay here and nurse Lady Jang for a while longer. After all, she still had over three weeks of vacation left.

This opportunity to spend time here was all thanks to Elder Sword Saint.

“Miss Na, spend ample time with Lady Jang and return at your leisure.”

“That’s right, Lady Na. Use this chance to show your filial devotion.”

At my and Biseoyoung’s words, Lady Na smiled faintly.

“Yes. Thank you.”

Then her gaze turned toward Captain Seolpung.

It was a different gaze than when she looked at us—a gaze of profound depth.

“Be careful on your way back, team leader. Thank you for coming.”

Then the squad leader replied with his characteristic awkward expression.

“I will. You too, please return safely.”

In the past, I might have thought this was just how things were, but now that I knew their feelings, just watching them was unbearably frustrating.

This was all because, unfortunately, my previous plan had failed.

My original plan was for the squad leader, driven by urgency after hearing about Lady Na’s marriage proposal, to go to her father and ask for her hand.

‘Hmm, even if it wasn’t quite that extreme, I thought it might be possible to get him to confess to me, Lady Na, that he didn’t want me to marry someone else…’

But then, of all people, the squad leader happened to run into Lady Na as she was leaving the head of the household’s room, completely derailing my plan.

The squad leader hurriedly asked Lady Na if she had to marry, trying to confirm the facts first. To that question, Lady Na had answered with a bright smile, saying it wasn’t necessary anymore.

Then the squad leader just mumbled something about it working out and turned back.

Hearing that, I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly.

“They say man proposes, heaven disposes, but it really isn’t easy.”

Getting the team leader to make a grand confession seemed to be a task of the highest difficulty level.

It felt comparable to dismantling a blood oath.

I resolved to plan more thoroughly next time, vowing to seize the next opportunity.

And I forced myself to suppress the feeling of relief rising in one corner of my heart.

Because it was a feeling I needed to cleanly put away now.

It’s not going well yet, but they say nothing is impossible in this world.

***

“We’re almost there. Just another half hour or so, and we’ll be back at the Thirteenth District.”

“You’re right. I was in such a hurry coming here I didn’t notice, but it was surprisingly quick.”

“Yeah, it’s surprisingly close.”

As Team Leader Seolpung, I, and Biseoyoung said this in turn, Ma Maengun, who had been piggybacking on the team leader, shuddered.

“Ugh, it’s because your divine techniques are too fast! It’s not close at all!”

The return trip didn’t take long.

I, Biseyang, leader of the Snow Wind Squad.

For the three who possessed the Thirteenth Generation’s supreme divine techniques, the distance to Heungui was merely a stroll, requiring only a few hours.

Even though Ma Mengyun, whose martial arts were still weak, was carried back by me and Jo Jang taking turns.

Then, suddenly, it occurred to me that I had agreed to speak with Miss Qingyan before heading to the village.

‘Ah, come to think of it, I rushed off without even asking her permission? Damn…’

Of course, given the urgency of the situation, I knew she would understand. Still, I felt I should formally apologize.

‘And this time, I really need to have a proper conversation.’

When I thought about it, I realized I hadn’t done anything for Lady Cheongyeon, who had always been by my side and done so much for me.

Even though she was clearly struggling so visibly, I hadn’t been able to offer any help at all. As a friend, I was utterly unqualified.

So this time, it was my turn to be there for Lady Cheongyeon.

This time, I absolutely wanted to do something for her.

It was with these thoughts that we returned to the Biyong 13th Division.

The first to greet us was someone we never expected.

“Come in, come in! I hear you caught three Iron Demons without even using a Fire Bone Sword?! Just as I expected of the finest talents I’ve kept my eye on! Hahahaha!”

The man greeting us with a bright face and hearty laughter was none other than Haeunbaek, the Heavenly Sword Saint and father of Lady Cheongyeon.

He had arrived at the Thirteenth Generation while we were away.

Startled, we hurriedly bowed to him and said.

“We greet the Sword Saint!”

Ma Mengyun stared at him in shock.

“Heeek?! You say he’s the Sword Saint?!”

Then he laughed heartily again, came over to us, and patted us on the shoulder.

“Hahaha! Why all the formality between us? I’m starting to feel a bit put out having to endure such stiff greetings.”

I wasn’t quite sure what kind of relationship we had, but he certainly knew how to put people at ease.

His easygoing manner allowed us to look at him with much more relaxed expressions.

Then, Gyeomseong looked at Maemangun and said.

“By the way, this fellow seems to be the son of the Demon King. Just as I’d heard, he’s incredibly handsome. I’m quite envious. If only I’d been half as good-looking as you when I was young, I wouldn’t have failed at my first love, ha ha ha ha!”

Ma Mengyun didn’t particularly like it when people commented on his looks.

He harbored an inferiority complex about his feminine, pretty looks.

But he didn’t seem the least bit offended by the old sword master’s words.

Even last time, I felt it—his way of speaking, tossing out words lightly yet infusing them with cheerfulness so as not to offend the other person, often left me feeling nothing short of amazed.

How should I put it?

It was like the aura of a respectable adult you’d want to emulate, not just in martial arts but in character too?

He possessed that quality.

Moreover, for me, who had never truly conversed with my father since childhood, he was the first good adult I had ever met in my life.

The Sword Sage glanced around once, then added with a sly expression.

Ah, the story about my first love I just mentioned is a secret from Cheongyeon. Everyone, please keep it to yourselves.

I chuckled at his playful banter and asked him.

“Did you come to see Lady Cheongyeon, sir?”

“Yes, I heard you’d returned from your mission and came straight away. But…”

Geomseong glanced at me and asked.

“Did you know that Cheongyeon had been appointed as the deputy leader of the fourth squad?”

His question caught us off guard, and we retorted in surprise.

“What? Young Lady Cheongyeon has already become the deputy leader of the Fourth Division? Already?”

“Hmm, judging by your reactions, it seems you weren’t aware. When I arrived yesterday, you were already using Sa Jo’s quarters.”

That was undeniably a rather embarrassing revelation.

Of course, both I and Lady Cheongyeon had assumed we’d be assigned to different squads anyway, but we never imagined they’d move us before either of us had even returned yet.

It occurred to me that perhaps this was what had been troubling her so much back then.

It suddenly felt so regrettable that I hadn’t had a chance to talk with her.

He asked the Sword Saint again.

“Have you perhaps heard anything about that matter from Lady Cheongyeon?”

But he merely shrugged his shoulders.

“I did ask her, but she only said it was something that had to be done anyway. I couldn’t get any more out of her.”

It seemed she hadn’t confided all her worries even to her father, the old man of the Sword Sect.

It seemed he would have to ask her directly when the opportunity arose.

We first went to the Thirteenth Division headquarters to report our return to the commander, then returned to the Seventh Squad’s quarters.

There, three people were waiting for us at the Seventh Division’s quarters.

Even after Lady Cheongyeon had left, three people remained at the Seventh Squad’s quarters—the same three who had been there before we left: Bae Jong-gwan, Lady Cheongyeon, and Lady Cheon Ju-eun.

This was because another person had recently joined the Seventh Division.

And that one was a beautiful woman with a languid expression, exuding a somewhat dreamy aura.

She said to the squad leader.

“You’re finally back, Seolpung.”

Then, as we were about to greet Bae Jong-gwan and Lady Cheon Ju-eun warmly, we found ourselves overcome by an indescribable, unfamiliar feeling.

Following her voice, the air around her seemed to be tinged with a sticky, languid color.

A presence that even altered the surrounding air into a hazy state—it was that peculiar sensation I’d only ever felt before from Senior Son Eun-sang, the Demon of the Moonlight.

Team Leader Seolpung answered with a slightly awkward expression.

“Ah, Young Lady Yawunhyang. You’ve already entered the lodgings?”

She replied with a faint smile.

“That’s why I came here. You’re making me wait too long.”

A peculiar atmosphere hung between the two.

In that awkward moment, Biseaeng and I exchanged glances and immediately asked Bae Jong-gwan and Lady Cheon what was going on through telepathy.

Then, Lady Cheon’s telepathic voice came through.

– Sister Yunhyang applied to the Biyongdae because of the Seolpung squad leader. The rumor is already spreading throughout the entire 13th generation.

Startled by that, I asked again.

– Huh? What do you mean? She applied because of the squad leader?

Then, the answer given by Lady Cheon Ju-eun was nothing short of astonishing.

– Well, maybe it’s something like, ‘I fell for the squad leader at first sight.’ It doesn’t seem like she came here out of hatred, after all.

– …Huh?!

I let out a hollow laugh.

A woman who fell for the squad leader, who can barely even talk to women, and joined the Flying Dragon Corps because of him?

And she was that beautiful?

No, it wasn’t just her looks that were astonishing.

Didn’t it feel like even her aura was beyond peak perfection?

Somehow, my chest felt tight.

It seemed a future where my relationship with Miss Yeom and Captain Jo would unfold smoothly was unlikely to come easily.

Later, through introductions, we learned she was Yan Zhaoxue, the renowned female martial artist of the Black Path, also known as the Blood-Stained Sword Maiden, Ya Yunxiang. It was nothing short of jaw-dropping to discover her true identity.

Young Master Tian Zhuyun sighed helplessly, saying that while she didn’t seem like a bad person, she appeared to be just as peculiar as Young Master Qingyan.

It seemed the Seventh Division had something about it that attracted peculiar individuals.

***

“Haah!”

Swish-swish!

My new technique, using Heavenly Wind Flower Petals, scattered in all directions like drifting blossoms.

The ultimate technique for disrupting an opponent’s focus. The enemy looked around in admiration.

In that instant, I had already moved behind them and drew my sword.

Sunwoo Thirteen Swords, Thirteenth Strike.

Whirlwind Sword Technique.

Swoosh!

My sword multiplied into dozens, hundreds, surrounding him like an encircling net.

Simultaneously, I closed my eyes and recalled.

That fantastic sword technique Mookrang had once displayed.

That sword dance I had longed for even in my daily dreams.

I snapped my eyes open and let out a battle cry.

“Haah!”

At that moment, hundreds of phantom blades materialized and poured toward the opponent.

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Sunwoo Thirteen Swords, Fifteenth Stroke.

Emptiness is form.

It was the sword technique he had never forgotten for even a single moment, clinging to it even in his dreams.

It had finally blossomed in reality, using the enlightenment gained from facing the two Iron Fiends as its foundation.

‘Success!’

Burning joy filled his entire body and mind.

Then, the sword spirit, bombarded by hundreds of sword energies, grinned and murmured.

“Excellent.”

And finally, he drew his sword.

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

The sword spirit swung a single, decisive strike.

It was neither a strike imbued with overwhelming force nor a lightning-fast slash—just a simple, ordinary strike.

Yet, as he swung that ordinary single strike horizontally, I forgot all the joy I had felt just moments before and could only stare blankly at it.

The sword wasn’t fast.

No, in truth, I couldn’t even tell if it was fast or not.

It simply cut.

The world split apart.

All I could see was my own sword energy, which had surrounded him, vanishing completely.

It was impossible to tell whether these three events were causally linked or merely coincided independently.

It was simply a sense of wonder, as if seeing something beyond this world.

The moment he took it in, the ecstasy that had surged through his entire body instantly transformed into a shudder.

As I stared blankly, his sword etched into my mind, the Sword Saint spoke.

“Truly astonishing. Last time I saw you, you hadn’t even reached the Level of Achieving Success. Yet in such a short time, you’ve leaped over two walls? And it doesn’t seem like you’re just at the threshold of crossing the wall either. Did you gain some kind of divine opportunity?”

His question snapped me back to my senses, and I answered.

“Ah, yes. I received guidance from a mysterious elder who chose not to reveal their identity.”

At that, he laughed hollowly.

“Well, what kind of deceased person could possibly guide you like this? I’m utterly envious of that teaching ability. I’d even like to receive some instruction myself.”

I just gave an awkward smile.

Then he sighed once and said to me.

“You’ve surpassed the pinnacle and instantly breached the next barrier. And now you’re approaching yet another wall. While this progress is truly astonishing, if someone were to ask me, ‘Is all of this desirable?’ I wouldn’t be able to answer easily. Do you understand why?”

After a moment’s thought, he replied.

“It seems to be because it was too fast.”

“Yes, that’s right. To be precise, it’s because the process is flawed. For a person, the moment of consolidation is just as important as the moment of growth. Without that, if you keep pursuing growth alone, suddenly everything could collapse in an instant. Therefore, my judgment is that from now on, you need to focus not on sword techniques or sword knowledge, but on the essence of the sword itself.”

He repeated the words in his mind.

“Not sword stance, not sword technique, but sword strike.”

Suddenly, that single sword strike, like a tremor, which the Sword Saint had just shown him, came to mind.

Somehow, I felt certain I understood exactly what you were saying.

Perhaps that’s why you countered my sword with that technique, and no other?

Seeing my expression, the Sword Saint smiled with satisfaction and said.

“Yes, it seems you understand what I’m saying. I’m truly delighted to be able to teach someone of your caliber. I even feel honored.”

I hastily shook my head and said.

“No, it is I who am honored. Thank you so much, Master.”

Master Geomseong devoted all his time to guiding us, except when he was spending time with Lady Cheongyeon.

He had guided other squad leaders even before our arrival, and just moments ago, he had been sparring with Squad Leader Seolpung for quite some time, offering him generous advice.

I had watched the entire process unfold without missing a single detail.

Though the advice was meant for Team Leader Seolpung, it was equally nourishing and vital for me as well.

According to Master Sword Spirit, it seemed Team Leader Seolpung was now on the verge of reaching the pinnacle.

At such a young age, it was truly remarkable, and the old sword master was delighted as if it were his own achievement.

Then he advised the squad leader, urging him to fight as many worthy opponents as possible from now on.

‘The wall of the pinnacle is different from any wall you’ve faced before. Until now, you had to pursue perfection to earn the right to reach that pinnacle wall. But to cross it, you must build your own world. That’s why each person has their own unique entrance. So, no one else’s advice or teaching will hold much meaning…’

To reach the pinnacle, one must pursue perfection.

I felt I could understand that to some extent.

Captain Seolpung had said he crossed the wall by focusing on the subtleties of stillness within motion.

Of course, that too was advice from the Sword Sage.

So, pursuing perfection probably meant filling in one’s weaknesses rather than focusing on strengths.

But the idea of building one’s own world still didn’t resonate with me.

It seemed like the kind of advice one could only grasp once reaching that level.

The Sword Sage continued speaking.

‘It seems I might have something to tell you after all. You possess the spirit of a warrior. Though you appear gentle on the surface, I see a fighting spirit boiling within you like a raging torrent. So fight endlessly. Perhaps that will help you overcome your barriers.’

After that, the Sword Sage engaged in several more duels with the squad leader.

After the duel ended, the squad leader went to a quiet place and was deep in meditation.

It was my turn immediately after that.

And in the ensuing duel, even though I had succeeded in achieving emptiness as form for the first time, just as I do now, I was struck senseless by a single sword strike.

The Sword Saint spoke.

Watch my sword techniques carefully from this moment on. Striving to keep up with them will be beneficial to you. If your sword can follow the trajectory of mine, you too will reach the pinnacle like Seolpung Jo-jang. And when you finally forge your own sword distinct from mine, you will be able to transcend even that pinnacle.

And he demonstrated his sword technique for me once more.

That slash that instantly extinguished my emptiness-is-form in an instant, and that thrust, equally astonishing.

And having witnessed that, I could do nothing but immediately enter meditation.

Because I wanted to engrave that magnificent sword strike not in my brain, but in my soul.