Chapter: 296
The time was dark.
It was around this moment that dark clouds slowly gathered, hinting that it would finally rain.
Thick clouds were hiding the moon.
The forest without moonlight was simply dark.
Grrr…
The surrounding monsters were all holding their breath.
Even beasts that have lost their reason and are left with only gluttony seemed to retain a tiny sliver of their hidden nature.
It appeared that those who remained near understood that they were beings no one dared to approach.
Rustle.
The fluttering hem of a cloak broke the silence, making a noise.
Wooosh-
The sword in my hand resonated, creating a sound.
As the dark clouds that were obscuring the moon shifted slightly, moonlight briefly illuminated the forest.
With the light shining, the figures of two people momentarily appeared in the woods.
One was a beautiful woman with pure white hair and blue eyes.
The other one was an equally beautiful woman with golden hair and golden eyes.
The woman with white hair, the Queen of the Demonic Sword, aimed her sword—a blade emitting blue light—at the other woman.
The energy seeping out in little puffs circled around angrily, crouching menacingly.
Aside from that, the expression on the face of the actual source of this energy was surprisingly calm.
The emotions wrapped in her expressionless face were unreadable.
Yet, the faint scent of blood indicated that she was not as safe as her expression suggested.
– What’s going on?
Her tone was cold and firm. A deadly aura lingered in her voice.
The monsters that had been holding their breath around her recoiled even further.
The wind blew.
The wind coming from across brought with it the pungent scent of blood.
At the end where the wind was blowing, the corpses of the raiding party sent by the Shaolin and Wudang were sprawled across the plain.
They had created a puddle with the blood they shed.
Although dozens attacked at once, the Demon Sword Master had killed them all without suffering a single wound.
She simply exuded an air of aloofness.
That was my perception when I first encountered her.
The woman who heard the question from the Demon Sword Master still wore a hesitant expression.
The tip of the Demon Sword’s blade did not waver as it fixated on her.
It could swing into action at any moment.
My spine tingled.
For the first time in a long while, the Demon Sword Master felt a hint of crisis.
The woman standing in front of her was someone who made the Demon Sword Master feel plenty of tension.
Between the gradually fading moonlight, a golden aura reminiscent of hair glimmered brightly.
The little swordswoman, Wi Seol-ah.
She was a descendant of the Sword God and also a woman heralded as the hope of the Central Plains.
The previous raid had just concluded.
Now, the Swordswoman of Sogeomseong had appeared as if she had been waiting for this moment.
The Demon Sword aimed her weapon and raised the stakes.
At last, she was someone I had always wanted to meet and duel someday.
Kookookook…
The fighting spirit and murderous intent radiating from a warrior who had reached the pinnacle made even the flowing wind come to a halt.
The swordswoman who had been dismissing the killing intent sprayed by the Demon Sword Master opened her mouth to speak as she gazed at her.
– I have something to say.
– …You… what about me?
Upon hearing the words from Sogeomseong, the Demon Sword Master temporarily paused the wager she had been raising.
It was unexpected.
To the Demon Sword Master, conversation only existed through the sword.
– What are you talking about?
Yet, the reason she listened was that Sogeomseong was someone he cared about.
In response to the question of the Demon Sword Master, Sogeomseong hesitated for a while.
– …Tomorrow, the Maeng raiding party will come looking for you.
She introduced an incomprehensible topic.
For a moment, the Demon Sword Master thought she had misheard.
No one, not even a woman known as the hope of the Central Plains, should be saying something like that to her—a demon.
– …What’s this about?
Her wariness heightened.
No matter how often the Demon Sword Master had been told she seemed thoughtless, it wasn’t entirely accurate.
No one, particularly not the leader of the Maeng faction, should be addressing her like that.
Creak-
The energy bubbled out of her brain in a fit of anger.
Bang!
With a sound like a wail, the energy gradually approached Sogeomseong.
Whoosh-!
The golden aura lingering around intercepted the invading energy with a forceful aura.
As energies collided, a powerful vibration resonated through the air.
– This is not a joke.
– …If not? Why are you telling me this?
The Demon Sword Master reiterated amidst the incomprehensible situation.
Sogeomseong did not provide an answer to that.
– …This raid will involve the Celestial Lord.
– So?
– No matter how much you and the Demon Emperor are together, it won’t be easy to escape.
They hinted that not just the Celestial Lord but the elite forces of the Maeng would be attacking all at once.
Upon hearing those words, the Demon Sword Master finally grasped the purpose of Sogeomseong’s visit.
– Small swordswoman.
– Yes…
– Are you worried about the Demon Emperor?
– …
At the Demon Sword Master’s words, Sogeomseong’s shoulders flinched slightly.
It was an amusing response.
A woman called the hope of the Central Plains had come to warn her while disregarding the dead bodies behind her.
How contradictory and hypocritical could that be?
Would she know that Sogeomseong is this sort of person?
Probably not.
And so, the Demon Sword Master had no intention of conveying such things either.
Even if she did,
– Even if he knew, he would still go.
Despite knowing it was a place where he would die, he would head there anyway.
Crack.
The energy pouring out from her mind dissipated.
The tension and murderous intent suffocating the surroundings faded away.
That was because the Demon Sword Master had receded her energy.
– Because it’s what the leader commanded.
The horse’s word is law.
Of course, she was aware that it wasn’t only due to the Celestial Lord’s order that he was going there.
Yet still, she could not understand.
What on earth was this woman standing before her?
What trials had she endured to make such choices?
The Demon Sword Master did not know nor wanted to understand.
Her life revolved solely around mastering her sword and seeking liberation.
Or perhaps,
At this juncture, she could understand a little.
Now, it seemed too late to simply express her thoughts.
In response to the words of the Demon Sword Master, Sogeomseong exhibited an unreadable expression.
What kind of emotion was that?
The Demon Sword Master, who was not skilled at deciphering others’ emotions, found it still elusive.
– …If you go there, it really…
– He won’t die.
– …What did you say?
She was a woman who could not properly decide anything.
Should she live as a hero?
If not, should she pursue other options?
She couldn’t pick either.
It was disappointing.
If Sogeomseong was to be believed…
She thought perhaps this person might be more like her.
But she seemed to be just human.
A human calling herself a demon.
Then,
What feelings am I experiencing right now?
The Demon Sword Master did not understand that the feeling she was experiencing was jealousy—something she wouldn’t realize until her last breath.
– He won’t die.
– …Demon Sword Master.
– I’ll make it so.
The words slipped from her lips as she swept her hair aside.
What meaning did she convey with those words?
The Demon Sword Master felt responsible for uttering it, as she kept musing endlessly.
Sogeomseong remained the same.
Her eyes were wide and filled with bewilderment.
If she swung her sword now, it looked like she could slice her neck in an instant.
Should she consider it?
She contemplated igniting her energy.
In the end, the Demon Sword Master decided against it.
It simply wasn’t her mood to act upon that urge.
She assessed Sogeomseong.
The energy exuding was resolute.
The surrounding golden aura was stunning.
However,
Her gaze was lifeless.
She appeared poised to crumble from exhaustion.
Her body was overloaded, and the alluring energy seemed somewhat unstable.
If this was the sight of a martial artist who couldn’t find her bearings,
The irony struck her as laughable.
If this was truly the hope of the Central Plains, she felt she could take her down right now.
Then,
[Then.]
[Would he hate it?]
The fleeting thought brushed through the Demon Sword Master’s mind.
She had to hold back her fingers from moving.
Since when?
This line of thought had taken root, gnawing at her even when she was far from it.
It felt odd and uncomfortable.
And then, without thinking carefully, the Demon Sword Master spoke.
– I think… I must hate you.
So it seemed.
That was the conclusion she’d reached.
Sogeomseong, in response to the Demon Sword Master’s words, merely stared at her in silence.
It was imperfect.
How could someone with such energy be susceptible to a minor demon?
The Demon Sword Master could not comprehend.
– If you’re that concerned, shouldn’t you just go yourself?
Instead of coming to speak to me, all you had to do was stand in defiance.
Had it been the Demon Sword Master herself, she surely would have done that.
If something didn’t sit right, swinging her sword and leaving would solve it.
Sogeomseong, biting her lip at the Demon Sword Master’s words, quietly observed.
Noticing that, the Demon Sword Master added a comment.
– Coward.
– …!
Upon speaking those words, it seemed she lost interest in Sogeomseong altogether.
Turning her back, she began to walk away.
She recalled that if she were late again, he would not let her be.
And,
Today, she would never divulge that Sogeomseong had said what she did.
The reason being the same as before.
She simply didn’t want to share that with him.
If it was just a bit of whining, then it might as well be termed as whining.
Once the Demon Sword Master departed, Sogeomseong remained alone.
She raised her head to gaze at the sky.
The moonlight, which had been gradually illuminating the surroundings, completely vanished behind dark clouds.
And there,
– Coward.
The words spat by the Demon Sword Master stung, striking deep into her chest.
– …coward…
Indeed.
She recognized herself as a coward.
Unable to properly choose any one path taken, she just held her breath.
If that wasn’t cowardice, what was it?
She felt weary.
Exhausted and struggling to breathe.
Yet she had to keep moving on.
Until when?
How far?
Why is it me?
While reflexively questioning herself, there was still no one around to answer, just as always.
– My Lord…!
With her eyes slowly closing, she heard a voice that seemed to have been waiting for her.
Only at that moment did Sogeomseong begin to open her eyes slightly.
Upon turning her head, the members of the Meng faction appeared.
– Ugh…!
As soon as one of the agents came close, he clasped his nose.
Even from a distance, the scent of blood was overwhelmingly strong.
– My Lord… what about the Demon Sword Master…?
– By the time I arrived, she had already fled.
– Oh no…! It appears we’re too late. The Lord hurried here, yet… What a pity. You’ve done well, My Lord.
Hearing the agent’s words, Sogeomseong nodded subtly in agreement.
There was no sign of doubt in her voice.
– …If you go further back, you should find traces of others. Let’s clean it up and withdraw.
– I shall obey your command. Move out!
– Yes!
While others continued with their mission, Sogeomseong too started moving her stiff body.
She couldn’t afford to appear tired.
She was a swordswoman, their hero.
And a few days later.
The Demon Sword Master kept her word.
She sacrificed herself in his stead, and he survived.
– …
“…Sister?”
At Wi Seol-ah’s words, the woman ceased her thoughts.
It was a memory she still wished to avoid.
How much time remained for her to stay like this?
She was undoubtedly feeling it—a stark reality.
So, before that,
She had to complete everything she could possibly do.
– I mentioned before.
“Pardon?”
– …The Moonlight Sword is a technique that captures the moon, yet you must never chase after it.
“Understood.”
Though it was a sudden remark, Wi Seol-ah nodded.
The urgency in the woman’s voice was palpable.
– Quickly, I hope you find the meaning behind it.
“…Yes.”
You shouldn’t chase the moon with a sword.
What could that mean?
It seemed an elusive statement that provided no answers.
Wi Seol-ah kept asking what the words meant.
The woman insisted that answers must not be provided.
Only you could uncover it yourself.
And only then, would Wi Seol-ah be able to realize what she truly wished for.
‘What I want…’
Wi Seol-ah contemplated.
What is it that I truly desire?
From the beginning until now, her wish had not changed.
She would protect him.
It was the sword she learned for that purpose.
That was the first objective she had set.
It would not fade away.
It must not.
And, in the forest where fierce battles unfolded.
Someone lay there, staring blankly up at the sky.
“Wow… what the hell.”
Just how exhausted was this person? Their body wouldn’t listen to them.
Could it be said it was to the point where even moving their fingers was a struggle?
Hah.
With a heavy body, she barely managed to sigh.
It was even disheartening.
“Really a mess.”
The sky appeared to spin as she lay there against the ground.
Ugh…
She could finally manage to lift herself.
But that wasn’t as simple as it sounded.
She had been hit in more than a couple of places.
‘Damn old man.’
She was quite certain she landed a proper attack against the abdomen.
Even after taking a direct hit, Bi Eejin looked just fine.
“What? You’re not bad? Are you really a freak?”
Even after taking the hit, he casually remarked, “Not bad.”
The problems started thereafter.
‘I didn’t even graze him.’
At first, he seemed perplexed by her suddenly increased speed.
After several exchanges of blows,
It was as if his body quickly adapted to the heightened blood flow.
Every single attack was deflected.
Even if she were in excellent condition, fighting someone like this would be torture.
‘…No way, did I think the difference in skill would be this massive?’
The distance seemed faultless.
The lines stretching out in front of her.
Every single joint bending just right seemed to move with an assuredness.
She felt as though he could predict her every move—not just the final moves but even the moment she began to strike.
She had felt this in her past life as well.
Experiencing it again only emphasized the stark contrast.
It wasn’t just fluff when they claimed he was the peak of martial arts.
Her defeat confirmed that for her.
“…I’m robbed.”
To make matters worse, she ended up losing the ribbon she had proudly worn as well.
Her powers couldn’t sustain themselves for long anyway.
With her internal injury, she quickly became fatigued.
Eventually, as soon as her energy depleted, the outcome was determined, leaving her lying on the ground.
How long had it been since she faced defeat?
This was her first loss ever since reaching an advanced level.
‘…It’s different from being checked.’
Even acknowledging Bi Eejin’s true identity as a instigator, this was a body that had undergone a transformation.
The situation she found herself in was even more preferable.
Sure, there was the excuse of her internal injuries.
‘If I were in perfect condition, would I have even come close to winning?’
She couldn’t predict what might’ve transpired if she poured her energy into it.
But simply pulling in her losses didn’t seem satisfactory.
Part of her felt resentment towards this loss.
But her previous life had been marked by the repetition of defeats.
Now that she faced loss once, it didn’t even seem significant anymore.
Considering this, she felt a bit pathetic.
– You are truly remarkable. Your skills in fighting are notably less impressive compared to your evident talent.
This was Bi Eejin’s parting remark just before he made off with her ribbon.
‘My fighting technique is subpar.’
That had been troubling her for quite a while.
Grounded on her extravagantly high betting stakes.
She had become accustomed to surrounding and maneuvering the flames.
However, as much as she was adept at striking at close range,
She definitely needed to train that part.
– I won the wager, so let’s keep our promise. We can schedule to meet later.
“…”
At this very moment, the voice of the Traitor echoed in her head.
Considering he was indeed a traitor, he might share something interesting, though.
Nevertheless, that wasn’t her concern.
‘It’s not that it isn’t.’
Now, honing her existing skill was an absolute necessity.
Learning something new? Just was out of the question at this point.
Perhaps, she mused.
‘It might be time to seek out my father.’
A person who might have reached the pinnacle of martial arts techniques she sought.
As he was so close, learning from him could yield better results.
Dreaming of what he might impart to her was an exercise in futility.
“Just a bit longer… before I resume…”
As the thought began to crystallize,
She was already moving her head to speak again.
“…Oh, what a bother…”
Suddenly, she felt an aura she had missed before.
It seemed her exhaustion hindered her senses from functioning properly.
This was exasperating.
She now found herself in a bit of a bind, to be honest.
‘Besides, it’s uncomfortably close.’
Incredibly close.
When considering her surroundings…
‘Right… it’s right next to me?’
At that very moment,
Swish!
She noticed a hand reaching out towards her.
Clearly, it was after her ribbon.
‘…But.’
Snap.
“Why so slow?”
“Ugh…!”
The surprise attack was rendered useless.
With a pace so slow, she effortlessly grabbed her opponent’s wrist.
Even in her current state, being caught was just painfully slow.
It made her ponder how this opponent survived until the third round.
She wanted nothing more than to take it easy for a spell, but given how things progressed, she forced herself to rise.
As she made an effort to sit up, her muscles screamed in protest.
She gritted her teeth.
The opponent seemed to be trying to wrest free his arm, but lacked the strength.
Seizing his arm as leverage, she took a moment to size him up.
“What are you, exactly?”
“Ah… I apologize…!”
The opponent had black hair.
His face was obscured by his long bangs.
His floundering demeanor blared he never expected to be caught, making him utterly pitiable.
He looked like a male, but goodness was he weak…
“Hm?”
Through the hair veiling his face,
Tearful eyes shimmered as though he was about to cry.
In the fleeting glance at those eyes,
She tightened her grip and subdued him further.
“Gah…! Stop that…!”
“You.”
Releasing his wrist,
She lifted his bangs.
Finally, his face and eyes were revealed.
“Huh?”
The moment she laid eyes on him, she let out a sigh of exasperation.
How, of all places, was he here?
The one she had been searching for had come right to her doorstep.
‘No…’
Could she call him “him” anymore?
In her past life, she was certain—
‘What happened to their appearance?’
The figure that stood before her had unmistakably been a woman.
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