In the morning, I groggily got up and drank a glass of water that Wi Seol-Ah handed to me.
“…Ugh… I feel like I’m going to die.”
To feel this thirsty right upon waking up, perhaps it was due to all the sweat I lost during the night.
「Of course you feel like this. Did you expect to feel fine after using your body so much for the past few days?」
“…What do you mean ‘scolding’ me? Isn’t it good for a martial artist to train a little harder?”
I said to Elder Shin while rubbing my sore shoulders.
Lately, I’ve been sleeping after practicing at night, and I was starting to feel more fatigue than refreshing energy.
The annoying thing was that, despite it all, I could feel my body slowly improving.
The lines of my muscles were becoming more pronounced.
It was true that my muscles were growing rapidly thanks to the Qi… but wasn’t this a bit too fast?
I forced my heavy body to get up and stepped outside.
As soon as I got outside, I looked up at the sky, and it seemed like the weather was exceptionally nice today.
‘Not a cloud in sight.’
The clear sky of late summer was beautiful no matter how many times I saw it.
Maybe since I was high up in the mountains, it wasn’t too hot, which also contributed to my good mood.
‘Did Namgung Bi-Ah go out?’
Not seeing her anywhere, it seemed like she had left early again, probably to visit Gu Ryunghwa as I had guessed.
I wondered whether I should go check on them, but quickly dismissed the thought.
Going there felt like more trouble than it was worth for Gu Ryunghwa.
“Now then… what should I do today?”
Since Gu Ryunghwa had already made it clear she wasn’t coming back, I could just leave without waiting for the tournament to start.
The problem was that the Sword Emperor hadn’t returned yet.
Honestly, I wasn’t worried about the Three Venerables… it just felt wrong to leave them behind.
So, should I at least go find some demonic stones since I couldn’t find any yesterday?
‘There are plenty of mountains around, so I feel like I could find one if I just looked around.’
Or maybe I should just practice more.
Strangely enough, I felt like I was training harder at others’ sects than at home.
「You’re just training more because the visible changes are motivating you.」
“That much is true.”
I didn’t want to admit it, but the Mount Hua Sect’s training was definitely beneficial for my cultivation.
How should I put it… it felt like my muscles were stacking up, while my mental focus was withering away.
「So are you planning to train again today?」
“For now, yes… but I have some things I need to do first.”
If I planned to return home before the tournament began, I needed to pay a visit to the Plum Blossom Sword as she’d mentioned wanting to see me one more time before I left.
It wasn’t something I could delay, considering how there wasn’t much I had to do today.
After changing my clothes, I stepped out and saw Wi Seol-Ah passing by, so I called out to her.
“I’m heading out for a bit.”
“Where are you going?”
“I have some business to attend to.”
“Can I come with you…?”
I sensed that neither Gu Ryunghwa nor Elder Shin would be too keen on having someone tag along.
Above all, I had a personal agenda regarding Zhuge Hyuk this time.
“I’ll go by myself today.”
“Aww… Be careful then.”
“I’ll bring back some chicken skewers.”
“Have a good trip!”
“…”
I felt like her voice brightened up a lot at that.
Probably my mistake, right…?
What should I do?
Namgung Bi-Ah pondered while hiding her trembling hand.
She desperately wanted to pinch her nose against the overwhelming stink hovering in the air.
But beyond that foul smell, she wondered what this revolting energy surrounding them could be.
‘…Killing intent?’
It felt too disgusting to simply be called Qi, but at the same time, it felt vastly different.
Before her stood a giant, brandishing a massive blade that didn’t even seem sword-like.
Namgung Bi-Ah realized immediately upon seeing him,
That he was not someone she could afford to confront.
She could feel the oppressive presence emanating from him,
And the instinctual energy from the clash she had just blocked.
Her arms were still quivering from the impact, confirming how overwhelmingly powerful he was.
He must be a martial artist at least at the peak realm, or something even higher.
She briefly wondered how much longer she could last if she fought him.
There was no doubt about it; she wouldn’t endure for long.
‘…This is bad.’
Namgung Bi-Ah had only followed Gu Ryunghwa here after spotting her enter this area.
Initially wanting to call out, she decided to quietly follow due to the ominous aura she felt.
But she never imagined she’d be confronted by such a behemoth.
Now, she debated whether her decision to come here was wise at all.
She couldn’t quite tell.
Unlike the quivering eyes of Namgung Bi-Ah, the man silently focused his attention on her and Gu Ryunghwa.
His gaze slowly scanned their bodies, from head to toe.
It felt like he was inspecting them.
Namgung Bi-Ah had to suppress the nausea that started bubbling inside her from the way he scrutinized her; assessing everything from her head, eyes, nose, neck, chest, down to her toes.
When he finally returned his gaze to her eyes, a chilling smile crept onto his face as he said,
“Nice, nice… Where did such a beautiful girl come from?”
A shiver of dread coursed through Namgung Bi-Ah upon hearing his words.
She instinctively understood what he intended.
“If only I had the time… I’d love to enjoy a taste of you right here… what a shame, huh? I’m a little busy right now.”
He pulled the sword embedded in the ground onto his shoulder.
Even that minimal movement radiated an intimidating aura, making Namgung Bi-Ah bite her lips.
“Even the look of fear on your face makes you breathtakingly beautiful. Seriously, where did someone like you come from, I’m getting all hot over it.”
“You… who are you?”
“Whoa… even your voice is lovely… Do you think you would recognize me if I told you? This brother goes by Ya Hyeoljeok.”
Namgung Bi-Ah slowly took on a battle stance, keeping an eye on him as he chuckled.
Yet Ya Hyeoljeok’s expression soured.
“I wouldn’t want to see a beauty like you get hurt. I’d prefer you stay lovely.”
Because that way, he could savor her later on.
Hearing that from Ya Hyeoljeok compelled Namgung Bi-Ah to lift her sword.
“-Sis.”
Gu Ryunghwa’s anxious words caused Namgung Bi-Ah to whisper quietly to her,
“…Run.”
“No! We should run together…!”
Gu Ryunghwa, sensed the danger of their opponent, responded nervously to Namgung Bi-Ah.
But her expression was resolute.
She knew she couldn’t escape.
While the man might not have initially sought her out, it was clear her presence had become part of the mix.
‘…What should I do?’
Taking a deep breath, Namgung Bi-Ah encased her entire body in Qi.
She had instructed Gu Ryunghwa to flee, but she wasn’t sure if he would let that happen.
After warming up a little with her Qi, she spoke to Gu Ryunghwa again,
“Hurry… Head to Mount Hua and inform the others.”
“But…”
Gu Ryunghwa looked back nervously over her shoulder.
Just a short distance away was the cabin where her master stayed.
Her master could hardly move, let alone run.
And If… if that man made it to the cabin…
“Pull yourself together.”
“…!”
The sharpness of Namgung Bi-Ah’s words jolted Gu Ryunghwa.
“Take a proper look at the current situation. You are no help right now. If there’s something to protect, focus on your priorities first.”
It wasn’t the usual short phrases from Namgung Bi-Ah.
Gu Ryunghwa had no idea what she was worried about. Namgung Bi-Ah thought Gu Ryunghwa was hesitating due to some unknown factors.
She kept her gaze firmly on the man while speaking.
– Sssss…
A heavy breath escaped Namgung Bi-Ah.
It was a deep, weighted sound.
Instead of her wooden sword, she pulled out her real sword, pointing its tip directly at him.
“Are you really going to do this? This brother is quite busy and won’t go easy on you, think wisely, my pretty.”
Ya Hyeoljeok spoke playfully, while Gu Ryunghwa gritted her teeth to hide how her lips were trembling in fear.
Her breathing hadn’t yet reached the level of calm as Namgung Bi-Ah’s, but she still tried her utmost to remain composed.
Even so, the shadow of Ya Hyeoljeok’s massive blade loomed heavily over her.
When Ya Hyeoljeok made his move, Namgung Bi-Ah dashed toward him, shooting out like an arrow as if anticipating this moment.
– Swoosh-!
The sound of her sword slicing through the air was fierce.
Namgung Bi-Ah’s movements were swift and precise.
So fast that Gu Ryunghwa couldn’t follow it clearly.
Yet, Ya Hyeoljeok effortlessly dodged her strike.
How could he move so swiftly with that imposing frame?
Nonetheless, Namgung Bi-Ah pressed on, continuing her rapid attacks as if she had expected that.
Once infused with Qi, visible trails followed each of her sword swings.
The sight was astonishingly beautiful, but Gu Ryunghwa barely had time to admire it.
– Hurry… Go tell the people of the Mount Hua Sect.
The words Namgung Bi-Ah had sent echoed in her mind.
Just as Ya Hyeoljeok twisted his body to evade, Gu Ryunghwa pushed off her feet, taking off in a sprint.
“…Tsk.”
Ya Hyeoljeok clicked his tongue upon noticing her escape.
While he had been too busily dodging, the sword he’d held at bay was suddenly aimed toward the girl fleeing.
Given the circumstances, he had anticipated this outcome since he knew the girls wouldn’t be capable of much.
He momentarily blinked in surprise when he realized that the sword swung by the stunning azure-haired girl was fiercer than he had expected,
But that only served to affirm his beliefs.
At best, she was just a young girl barely in her twenties and likely posed no real threat.
‘Better keep her face intact if I can help it.’
As he glanced at the girl before him striking, he had never encountered such a lovely sight before in his life.
The thought of what it would feel like to lay her down made his blood boil and a lewd grin crept to his lips.
But to accomplish that…
‘There will be no annoying interference.’
For now, he couldn’t risk harming her, so he intended to simply knock her unconscious and then take her to the cave once he was done here.
Along with the Immortal Healer, if he were here.
To do that, it was necessary to remove anything that might come back to bite him later.
Ya Hyeoljeok gathered Qi into his sword, prepared to swing it…
The blade’s path was sure to end in some beheading for Gu Ryunghwa.
But at that moment, just as Ya Hyeoljeok was set to unleash his strike—
– Swoosh-!
“…!”
Namgung Bi-Ah’s sword lunged into that momentary gap.
A sudden heavy energy enveloped Ya Hyeoljeok, causing his body to feel sluggish.
He attempted to react but failed, allowing Namgung Bi-Ah’s sword to graze his stomach.
“…Woah.”
He felt astonished.
Came a soft gasp as he rubbed the injured area of his belly.
Some blood trickled out.
It wasn’t a deep cut, so it wasn’t a significant issue, but he recalled the instant heaviness that had surged from Namgung Bi-Ah.
She had purposefully concealed her skills until that very moment.
A crooked smile formed on his face, revealing that he had stumbled upon some amusement.
Though he lost sight of Gu Ryunghwa in that moment, Ya Hyeoljeok’s mood improved for having discovered something enjoyable.
At one point, he considered chasing after Gu Ryunghwa to kill her, but found himself more focused on the pretty girl before him.
“Beautiful girl… What’s your relation to Namgung?”
The heavy aura he had sensed moments ago was unmistakably that of the Master of Swords.
There could be no mistake since he had felt that same energy in previous confrontations.
After becoming distracted by her beauty,
His bluish-white hair, along with her blue eyes and the distinctive sharp aura she exuded were traits unique to the Namgung Clan.
“…Along with the Gu Clan, now there’s a Namgung clad in Mount Hua too. What’s happening here?”
Ya Hyeoljeok flashed a twisted smile, briefly recalling Baechong.
There had certainly been no mention of Namgung from Baechong.
‘That useless piece of trash, I’ll definitely kill him when I get back.’
He had planned on doing so anyway because he found him utterly worthless,
But now he felt the urge to expedite that.
– Sssss…
As her breathing deepened, the aura around Namgung Bi-Ah thickened.
Since her hidden attack had missed, she needed to focus even more intently.
She had already been exposed, which made it necessary to tighten her concentration.
‘How long can I hold out against him?’
While concealing her inner fear, Namgung Bi-Ah prepared for another strike, but suddenly sensed an ominous feeling, bringing her sword up defensively.
She recognized it was too late to dodge.
– Boom-!
The heavy impact lifted Namgung Bi-Ah slightly off the ground.
“Ugh!”
She was sent hurtling towards a tree, crashing into it and groaning as she hit the ground.
“Oops, guess I didn’t control my strength well enough there.”
With that nonchalant remark from Ya Hyeoljeok, Namgung Bi-Ah coughed blood while barely hanging on to her senses.
What was that…?
She hadn’t even seen how he attacked her.
Judging from Ya Hyeoljeok’s hand movements, it seemed he had struck with his fist.
‘A punch…?’
Despite his massive sword, she had ruled out the possibility of him being a fist fighter and was now shocked that such a powerful blow could come from just a punch.
“Ugh…!”
Namgung Bi-Ah groaned at the sharp pain radiating through her left arm.
It felt broken.
Desperately, she struggled to rise as she sensed Ya Hyeoljeok moving closer.
Ya Hyeoljeok looked at her, posing another question.
“Your face isn’t hurt, is it?”
She was biting her lips tight as she heard his voice coming from nearby.
With light steps, I wandered through the streets.
I had sought answers on demonic stones once more but got nothing. I’d also asked until what time the usual chicken skewer shop would be open.
Just in case I wanted to get some later.
Fortunately, they reassured me they’d be open late into the night.
While I asked, I bought a skewer to sate my hunger and trudged back to the hut where the Plum Blossom Sword and the Immortal Healer were staying.
I soon left the streets and entered the forest.
Finding the way was a tad tricky, but luckily, having been there a couple of times helped me stay on course.
‘I hope the Immortal Healer won’t glare at me again when I get there…’
I felt hesitant about visiting because he usually looked quite annoyed when I showed up.
「I can’t believe you’re the one talking about annoyed expressions.」
‘You always chime in at times like this!’
「Why wouldn’t I when you’re thinking such outlandish thoughts?」
As I chatted with Elder Shin, I spotted someone frantically running toward me from a distance.
“Gu Ryunghwa…?”
To my astonishment, it was Gu Ryunghwa, someone I thought was at the Mount Hua Sect.
I assumed she would be with Namgung Bi-Ah…
Did she return to the hut already?
‘Then where’s Namgung Bi-Ah…?’
Gu Ryunghwa was sprinting my way, gasping for air as she approached.
Her eyes met mine just as she seemed on the verge of bursting into tears, she yelled,
“B… Brother!”
“Huh?”
Brother…?
I felt like my brain malfunctions the second those words escaped her mouth.
It was something I hadn’t heard from Gu Ryunghwa in decades.
Why is she saying this all of a sudden? Is she sick…?
“Brother! Brother!”
“Hey, what’s going on—”
“S-Sis is…!”
The moment her urgent cry reached my ears, my mind froze in an instant.
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