Chapter 58: The Fall of Plum Blossom Dragon (1)
“Right now?”
Yung Pung nodded at my question, causing my brows to furrow slightly.
I couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed. It was understandable if he regretted not being able to properly perform earlier, but judging by his expression, it seemed his true feelings were far from innocent.
‘Looks like he’s not great at lying.’
In a way, he might even be called pure. It was impressive how honest he was about his feelings.
“Speak properly; you’re just inexperienced.”
I coughed lightly at Elder Shin’s words. It was surprising to hear him, of all people, say such things.
‘Should a guy who used to be the Lord of Mount Hua really talk poorly about his own people?’
“Now are you treating me like the real Divine Sword?”
Elder Shin chuckled at my comment.
“Being honest with your emotions doesn’t do anyone any favors in this world. You might be young, but I believe you grasp a bit of what I mean.”
‘A bit?’
Elder Shin’s words hit home far more than anyone else could understand. Honestly, anyone who had traveled even a little through the martial world would realize that.
From that perspective, it was clear how sheltered Yung Pung had been while growing up in Mount Hua.
“It’s not a good thing to shield a child from everything. They ought to have been stricter with someone as talented as him.”
Elder Shin’s disdain was unexpected to see. It seemed he had a more unforgiving idea about raising children due to his past experiences in warfare.
“Of course, with someone as beautiful as her, it’d be impossible not to be enamored no matter how hard they trained.”
I glanced over at Namgung Bi-Ah as Elder Shin spoke.
Her hair, a striking mix of blue and white, sparkled in the moonlight. The flickering campfire illuminated her slightly blushing cheeks, giving her an ethereal charm.
She was truly stunning.
Unlike Wi Seol-ah, who still had traces of baby fat, Namgung Bi-Ah was already physically mature. It made me wonder if humans could really be that beautiful.
In my past life, I likely would’ve thought it strange for her beauty not to be known throughout Anhui and even beyond.
Yet, contrary to expectations, it seemed that, even with her unusual talent, she remained largely unrecognized.
Could this also be the influence of the Namgung Clan?
Regardless, I could sympathize with Yung Pung’s predicament to an extent.
“What’s more surprising is how you seem unbothered by the fact she’s your fiancée.”
I couldn’t help but smirk at Elder Shin’s words—after all, I wasn’t any different.
Despite Namgung Bi-Ah being breathtaking, I felt a bit of dissatisfaction compared to the ‘Demon Sword Queen’ days.
The chilling aura exuded by the Demon Sword blended seamlessly with her high level of martial arts, crafting a dreamy atmosphere.
Even bloodthirsty demon beings would hesitate when witnessing her presence.
But still… there remained a reason for my discomfort with her.
The Demon Sword was famously violent, even among other demons.
Even the vicious Demon Blade, who delighted in slaughter, steered clear of the ‘Demonic Sword Queen.’
Whether it was her clan, in wars, or even against fellow demons, the Demon Sword was known for a profound disdain of humanity.
Her method of battle was brutal.
She didn’t just aim to kill but aimed to ensure the most agonizingly painful end possible.
To give an example, I had seen her severing a man’s genitals during a fight— and it wasn’t just once.
She’d gone so far that even the Heavenly Demon had to tell her to rein it in.
Not that she ever listened, of course.
‘What kind of lunatic would ignore direct orders from the Heavenly Demon?’
‘Crazy girl…’
What terrified me was that, in all the battles I witnessed, I had never once sensed her murderous intent.
Was there anything more frightening than that?
It made me think of how she created havoc wherever she went, and how I always ended up cleaning up her messes— talk about headaches.
“…What kind of thoughts are you having for me to feel so uneasy?”
‘Nothing special.’
However, if I had to think of one thing lately, it’s that Namgung Bi-Ah in this life was an entirely different person compared to the Demon Sword I remembered.
That was what I was attempting to convince myself of.
Suddenly, Namgung Bi-Ah looked up and locked eyes with me after sensing my gaze.
Though she resembled the Demon Sword, her aura was completely different.
It was difficult to say she was the same person.
There was a certain cluelessness about her.
I wondered what had transpired in her past life that led to her becoming such an empty vessel.
I found myself unexpectedly curious about an aspect I had deliberately avoided.
“Young Master.”
Yung Pung’s voice snapped me back to reality.
“Yes?”
Why was he calling? Ah, right— the duel.
Turning to Yung Pung, I asked, “You looked like you’d hurt your back earlier. Will you be okay?”
“This is nothing.”
I understood his determination, but he still seemed to be a bit lost in thought.
Seeing him, the others from Mount Hua, who had been watching us from a distance, began to approach, clearly looking to intervene.
I turned to Yung Pung and said, “Let’s do this.”
“Huh?”
Everyone around us, not just Elder Shin, wore surprised expressions.
Was I really that shocking?
“You were planning to refuse the duel up till now. What changed?”
‘It’s not a grand transformation, really.’
It wasn’t a drastic change of heart.
As Elder Shin guessed, I had no intention of accepting the duel at first, but seeing Yung Pung had nudged me to reconsider, albeit a little.
Elder Shin burst into laughter.
“You try to cover it up, but deep down, you really aren’t a good liar.”
‘Can we not dwell on this?’
“I won’t intervene, but I can’t help being curious about why a guy like you, who seems younger than that child over there, feels guilt towards Mount Hua.”
There was no way I could divulge the real reason.
After I agreed to Yung Pung’s challenge, the Mount Hua members who had hoped to chastise him came to a halt in confusion.
Judging by Shinhyun’s fiery gaze, it seemed inevitable that Yung Pung would face punishment.
As I stood to follow Yung Pung, someone firmly grabbed my wrist.
It was Namgung Bi-Ah.
I tried to pull my arm free, but her grip was surprisingly strong.
“Lady Namgung, what’s the matter?”
“Are you… going to duel?”
“…Yes, as you can see.”
Her eyes widened in shock at my response.
It was the first time I’d seen her look so surprised.
She then asked, “And what about me?”
“Oh…”
There was a hint of betrayal in her voice.
Was this really such a big deal for her?
“…Would you like to fight Yung Pung instead?”
I had a purpose in accepting Yung Pung’s challenge.
Now that I thought about it, it would probably be fine for Namgung Bi-Ah to take part too.
For some reason, Yung Pung lit up at my suggestion.
“I wouldn’t mind that either!”
“No.”
Namgung Bi-Ah’s reply was swift and chilly, quickly dousing Yung Pung’s enthusiasm, leaving him pale as if she’d dealt him an internal wound.
A person who gets all fired up over skilled swordsmen ended up rejecting a duel with the Plum Blossom Dragon…?
‘I mean, I don’t even use a sword.’
There was something strange about how Namgung Bi-Ah tilted her head slightly.
‘Is she sulking?’
‘No way… is she really sulking because I didn’t fight with her?’
“You’re really a piece of work, you know that.”
Elder Shin’s voice sounded gleeful, as if he’d been waiting for this moment.
It was the harshest criticism he had given me, second only to ‘mantis.’
‘Can a Taoist really use such words?’
“What does it matter? I’m already dead. You should abandon that outdated way of thinking.”
‘So now it’s my fault?’
“Yes, and you should remember that a certain monk nearly got kicked out for sneaking meat, so what’s the issue with a Taoist letting loose a little?”
I really didn’t want to know any of that…
A historical figure’s dark past…
It was even more ridiculous considering these words were coming from the ghost of a former lord from Mount Hua.
Not wanting to ponder it any longer, I redirected my attention to Yung Pung.
“Yung Pung, can you fight?”
The glint in Yung Pung’s eyes returned a little at my question.
“Of course! I will!”
His fire burned bright, even more so than before. This guy was turning out to be a bigger hassle than I’d anticipated.
“When jealousy blinds you, you see nothing.”
I couldn’t help but agree with Elder Shin’s words; it was perhaps the most relatable thing he’d said in recent times.
Crunch!
I stepped on a decayed twig, making a noise.
Though it was summer and the weather wasn’t the most pleasant, the night breeze made it feel more comfortable than it ought to.
We took positions at a respectful distance, with Shinhyun standing in the center. Just like before.
Shinhyun’s expression betrayed a promise of revenge against Yung Pung, yet I was uncertain if Yung Pung noticed—
Ah, who was I kidding? He was intentionally avoiding Shinhyun’s gaze. He was likely aware that, once this duel concluded, Shinhyun would unleash his pent-up anger on him.
We stood facing one another for a while, and I noticed Yung Pung’s expression began to shift.
“…I apologize for my earlier behavior.”
His voice was now small and meek, far from where he had started.
Curiosity bubbled up inside me at Yung Pung’s words.
“Suddenly?”
“I was told not to act on impulse, but I ended up embarrassing myself once again.”
Had he come to his senses thanks to the cold air? Even so, it was quite shocking for him to realize it so quickly.
“At least he’s not the worst.”
‘You think so?’
“He’s capable of observing and judging himself. That’s imperative for a warrior.”
He indeed reflected his Taoist clan’s teachings.
Still, Yung Pung kept sneaking glances at Namgung Bi-Ah.
‘Where did Wi Seol-ah wander off to? I thought she’d be by her side.’
‘She’s probably off enjoying herself somewhere.’
That seemed a fair assumption.
“Since he’s still young, he could easily be swayed by a beautiful woman’s charms.”
‘You’ve suddenly started defending him; by your logic, I’m younger than Yung Pung.’
“Cough… I defend my family members. Plus, regardless of appearances, my mental age clearly exceeds his.”
I chose not to respond to Elder Shin.
I had no defense for my actual age, especially considering the nagging conscience that remained.
After stretching, Shinhyun declared, “Start the duel.”
I expected Yung Pung to rush at me the moment it began, but instead, he observed me.
“Looks like he sensed something back there.”
Before being knocked away by Namgung Bi-Ah, Yung Pung had caught a glimpse of my movements during that brief moment.
“What keen observation! If he continues on this path, the future of Mount Hua will rest in his hands!”
Elder Shin praised him.
I thought maybe he was biased as a fellow Mount Hua, but perhaps he could recognize Yung Pung’s potential because he was from Mount Hua.
Rustle!
Something fell near Yung Pung.
Just like the first plum blossom leaf that crumbled upon touching the ground, more leaves began to fall.
As they fell to the ground, they seemed infused with a life of their own, swirling gently around Yung Pung as if caught in a breeze.
To bloom like a flower in battle and show the Qi of plum blossoms.
That was the aspiration of Mount Hua’s martial artists and the very first goal they aimed to accomplish as warriors from that legacy.
The plum blossom sword art.
It was the first time I was witnessing Yung Pung wield it in such a way.
“…At that age, to have mastered the plum blossom technique so well, what a monstrous talent!”
Elder Shin remarked, his voice nearly bubbling with excitement.
I simply observed Yung Pung, and Elder Shin continued, “Would you like me to tell you how to beat him?”
I almost laughed at his ridiculous suggestion.
“Didn’t you just say you should stay supportive of your own side?”
“If you keep going like this, you’ll only get beaten up and collapse. You won’t fulfill the true purpose behind your agreeing to the duel.”
Ah, now I understood what he wanted.
“Elder Shin.”
“What is it?”
“What can you see?”
I asked what he could perceive as he observed both Yung Pung and me.
Elder Shin fell silent for a moment.
Was he trying to carefully analyze us?
“Not much in my current state.”
So that meant he couldn’t perceive everything, which was a relief.
I nodded slightly at Elder Shin’s comment; it worked in my favor.
If he could see everything, it’d complicate matters anyway.
The plum blossom Qi that exuded from Yung Pung enveloped the vicinity.
It seemed lovely and warm at a glance, but the razor-sharp Qi loomed over me like a multitude of swords.
It was astonishing enough that he could conjure so much Qi, but to channel this much willpower into it was another level of achievement.
He certainly lived up to Mount Hua’s reputation.
“I’ll be going first, Young Master.”
“Are you going to deny a weaker opponent a chance to attack first?”
“I never thought of you as weak.”
“…Ah.”
He was definitely unlike those other fools.
I had learned my lesson about comparing him to less capable characters like Gu Jeolyub or Namgung Cheonjun.
“I’ll be starting now…?”
Yung Pung’s motions suddenly halted mid-action.
I could feel his emotions swelling; his eyes widened and his breathing quickened.
“What is this?”
I even heard Elder Shin’s voice, sounding equally flabbergasted.
“That’s…!”
My earth-shattering flame technique allowed me to unleash a torrent of Qi from my body, spreading out rather than focusing it in one location.
The heat surged and expanded all around us.
With no intention of cooling down, my blaze engulfed the lingering plum blossom Qi.
One by one, the plum blossom petals began to burn up due to my searing energy.
With all his Qi consumed, my flame began to swirl around me.
‘I can finally do this now that my Qi has increased!’
Previously, I’d held back from even attempting such a thing.
Yet now, it came so easily.
The ‘Blazing Wheel.’
It wasn’t a particularly complex martial art.
Merely circulating my mind to envelop my body in flames— a simple act.
However, it consumed a considerable amount of Qi, making it a technique I seldom utilized.
I managed to control it well now, yet if I continued, I knew I wouldn’t be able to sustain it for too long.
“…I didn’t realize a true monster was right here.”
Yet again, Elder Shin’s flattery was excessive.
His praise brought me joy, but I felt an equal measure of discomfort.
I hadn’t anticipated getting this far, but excitement bubbled within me—it had been a while.
Yung Pung’s face betrayed clear shock upon watching the plum blossoms vanish in flames one by one.
Shinhyun, witnessing from the sidelines, reflected a similar surprise.
“Young Master Yung Pung.”
He flinched at my call, as if I pulled him from deep thoughts.
“I’m coming.”
I didn’t wait for his reply; instead, I went airborne, surrounded by flames,
As a massive fire consumed Yung Pung in an instant.
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