Chapter: 723
Woo-hoo—!
I checked my physical condition by circulating my energy.
The blood flowed in circles a couple of times and soon returned to the heart.
That alone was enough for confirmation.
‘Just a slight crack on my shoulder.’
It seems I suffered an internal injury while blocking martial arts, and my shoulder cracked again when I was hit trying to perform Heocho.
I was able to defend myself to this extent with my strong arm; if I hadn’t, my shoulder would have shattered.
‘Is there anything else?’
I hadn’t even used a quarter of my inner power, and the crack should heal by the end of the day.
The internal injury will probably recover before long.
That’s about it.
Just enough pain and injury to endure during training.
‘This….’
Are these the marks left on my body after trampling on the top ten masters of the Central Plains?
I opened and closed my fists a few times, staring straight ahead.
Cough.
The old woman, Bunwol Kwonseon, was sitting down, bleeding.
Black blood.
It wasn’t dangerous; it was just part of the process of healing some internal injuries.
“I’ve patched things up roughly, so you won’t die.”
The insides were a mess due to the fight.
With a severely twisted energy and significant external injuries, if left unchecked, she would have died.
So, I took some measures.
Huff… Hoo…
Kwonseon, catching her breath repeatedly, nodded her head as she looked at me.
I recalled the recent duel.
Honestly, there isn’t much to think about.
‘How boring.’
It wasn’t entertaining.
Those were the only thoughts swirling in my head.
‘What is this?’
Disappointment flooded me.
Compared to the duel with Paejon, there was not a shred of fierceness.
‘Did she let her guard down?’
Could it be that this was the result of Kwonseon’s laxity?
I mulled it over and quickly dismissed the notion.
‘That can’t be true. I had plans to keep her alert.’
I had prepared sufficiently to ensure she would be cautious.
I pushed aside her aura and showed a certain level of skill.
No matter how senile Kwonseon is, there was no way she wouldn’t have picked up on that much.
‘If she didn’t sense it, then she deserves to die.’
If a man who made it all the way to the head of the Amipa family didn’t even grasp this and let his guard down, it would be better for him to disappear quietly.
Kwonseon did not let her guard down.
No, perhaps she relaxed a bit, but she certainly wasn’t in a position to be helplessly defeated.
Then what is it?
‘Am I strong?’
Have I gotten that much stronger?
I ponder while looking at my clenched fist.
‘I expected to win.’
How strong am I? I always try to judge objectively.
I need to know exactly where my limits are so as not to disrupt my plans.
Therefore, I never thought I’d lose to Kwonseon in this fight.
I was confident that I could win at that level.
‘I just didn’t expect it to be this easy.’
That level of ease was somewhat unnerving.
That’s why it’s strange.
‘She can’t be this weak.’
I am strong.
Absolutely not weak.
Even if I don’t compare to those close to the Three Lords, Plum Blossom or Geomje, I shouldn’t lose to any average top ten master.
Plus, I shouldn’t be able to win so easily.
‘I was ready to use the Holy Spear, even if I didn’t use the verbs or magic.’
To think I would resolve things with just a few sparks and a simple maneuver.
Something felt off, very off.
I approached Kwonseon and knelt down on one knee.
After meeting her gaze, I asked her.
“Jang Moon-in. Why are you so weak?”
…!
Asking without preamble distorted Kwonseon’s face.
“… Are you planning to… humiliate me?”
“No. I already knew I would win anyway. I’m not mocking you. I’m genuinely curious.”
Her somewhat annoyed response made Kwonseon smirk bitterly.
“… I’m the one who’s curious.”
Drip.
As Kwonseon wiped off her flowing blood, she asked me.
“How on earth… did you enter that state?”
The realm of imagination.
A lofty level that all martial artists aspire to reach.
Not merely a peak or zenith, but a place where life’s understanding accumulates and one’s inner vision finally takes form.
Kwonseon regarded the day she reached that domain with wide eyes.
Hmm.
Now I understood why she was acting this way.
The martial art Kwonseon was about to use just moments ago.
The force embedded within it was a mixture of both our internal powers and my imagination.
Thus, in order to counter it, I too had to blend in my imagery. That must be why she noticed.
How I came to that realization…
Well.
“I’ve simply come to that through sheer persistence.”
…
It was evident she didn’t buy that one bit.
It wasn’t something I said expecting her to believe me.
A moment of silence lingered, until Kwonseon responded as if she was suspicious.
“Maybe… you did something like a half-life crisis…”
“I didn’t do anything foolish like that.”
…
I immediately brushed off any unnecessary suspicions.
“Sometimes in this world, things happen that just don’t make sense.”
There was no need to provide excuses or create justifications.
What if she didn’t believe it? Right now, Kwonseon wasn’t in any position to second-guess such matters.
“Just answer my question, Jang Moon-in.”
I stared into her eyes.
“Why are you so weak?”
…
“I’m not teasing or trying to insult you. I’m simply genuinely curious.”
As mentioned earlier, I always maintain an objectivity regarding my own level.
I might not know all the top ten masters, but most of them, I can definitely beat.
‘I lose to the Three Lords and their immediate subordinates.’
Excluding Paejon, who is an exception due to particular circumstances.
While my observations of the Celestial Lord aren’t precise, I believe I might lose within twenty exchanges, and I’ve not observed the Sword Lord in some time, but they should be faster than that.
That’s about the standing I find myself at.
So, how does Kwonseon stack up?
‘Earlier, she seemed at a similar level to Geomje.’
The presence and momentum I sensed were akin to that.
So I expected to match her closely in combat.
‘But this….’
To put it bluntly, Kwonseon’s capabilities seem to fall just above Shinyong, the one who I fought against in a tight spot.
It seemed close to that threshold.
‘At this level, if I fought against Dang Soyul at night, I might lose.’
If the situation permitted, the assassin Dang Soyul might just defeat her.
The extent to which Kwonseon displayed her strength was too pitiful for a top ten master.
That’s why an inquiry arose in my mind.
“It doesn’t seem to be an internal injury issue, and while physical factors might stem from aging, the energy remains, doesn’t it? So what exactly is the problem?”
The visible prowess was astonishingly feeble.
I would have understood if it were simply that I was significantly stronger, but it didn’t seem to be merely that.
“The energy wasn’t moving properly. Is there some other issue?”
…
At my words, Kwonseon’s brow furrowed deeper.
Does she still think I’m mocking her?
‘What’s this? Does she genuinely not know?’
Kwonseon merely frowned, obviously at a loss.
‘Is she really clueless after all this?’
I tapped her arm with my fingers, crossing my arms.
Something flickered through my mind, igniting a thought.
“Ah.”
I see now.
I released a breath and smirked a little.
“What is it…? Why are you laughing?”
“It’s nothing. I just found it a bit sad.”
“What?”
Kwonseon expressed doubt at my statement, but I had no intention of continuing the conversation any further.
‘I thought I sensed something.’
It began to make sense to me.
There was no need to dig deeper, as it seemed all too obvious.
‘I’ll just need to figure out later if there’s anything linked to the members of the Amipa.’
With that thought in mind, I organized my thoughts.
“In any case, since I won, let’s stick to the wager.”
Kwonseon glared at me as though she were going to kill me.
I asked her.
“What’s your purpose?”
…
“The reason you’re seeking Pyeonyun. Is it a precious item? Or is it Pyeonyun herself?”
At my nonchalant question, Kwonseon let out a laugh of exasperation.
“You don’t even find my being defeated significant at all?”
“That’s not worth taking seriously.”
So, what now? Shouldn’t I be feeling a bit more buoyant?
“What’s so special about defeating a prominent figure?”
…
There was no sense of excitement, so just answer me already.
Kuh-hack.
Drip drip.
Blood dripped from Kwonseon’s lips.
The elegantly donned white robe was already soaked in blood.
Though it appeared pitiful, my expression remained utterly unchanged.
“If I… don’t answer…”
“I’m not one to treat such matters lightly. If you can manage the backlash, then just go for it. If not, no worries.”
My gaze and heart grew cold.
“There are countless ways to make you speak. Most aren’t peaceful, though.”
If you’re curious, go ahead and implement that.
As I insinuated this, Kwonseon’s eyes flickered in surprise.
“… You’re serious…. Are you genuinely intending to torture me?”
“If necessary.”
“Are you really from the righteous sect…?”
Ha ha.
I chuckled at Kwonseon’s words.
“I get asked that frequently. It’s actually a pretty funny thing to say, isn’t it?”
“What do you mean?”
“Those days when I could take pride in being from the righteous sect are long gone. Most of the roots have rotted away, yet you still cling to that pitiful honor?”
…
What’s it matter if I’m not righteous?
To my eyes, righteous and demonic sects are naught but the same.
If there’s a significant difference between the two for me?
‘Demonic sects tend to kill first, while righteous ones might have conversations at least.’
Of course, even with that approach, most ended up dead.
“When discussing realities and stating affiliations, I am indeed of the righteous sect. My father is a righteous man. But…”
I raised my finger under Kwonseon’s chin.
“That doesn’t hold much weight for me. Think of it merely as a name tag you can take off at any time.”
A value so minor that it can easily be discarded.
That was what righteousness meant to me.
“So then. Whether you consider it righteous or not, just state your words honestly. That was our deal, wasn’t it?”
At any moment, this finger could shift toward her throat.
With that intent in mind, I subtly moved my hand in that direction.
Then I asked once more.
“Pyeonyun. What’s her connection with the Amipa?”
I spat it out and counted to five in my heart.
One passed in the blink of an eye, trailing closely to the next five.
“… Pyeonyun. This is related to her mother.”
I halted the force I was about to use.
“Her mother? Who is that? Are you referring to Lady Mok?”
I slightly diverted the topic with pretense.
Lady Mok was the matriarch of the Seoan Piga clan.
Upon hearing my words, Kwonseon looked at me with a peculiar gaze.
Did she realize I was testing her? I gave her a playful wink.
Seeing that, Kwonseon twitched slightly in surprise.
“… Ah, the child’s mother… is not the one you’ve mentioned.”
“Is that so?”
“The child is….”
Kwonseon momentarily hesitated. But then resumed speaking.
“… Eulryeong Geomhu. That child is the bloodline of the previous sword master.”
“What, what did you say? Huh?! That’s quite a revelation…!”
“… I see. You already knew about it.”
“Just now, I responded as if I didn’t know. Why are you so certain of this?”
My act was spot on, yet why was she reacting differently?
How absurd.
‘Regardless, I wasn’t planning to hide it.’
I felt rather displeased.
“… So, you’re saying you supported the child while knowing her true identity?”
“None of your questions are accepted.”
I cut off Kwonseon’s subtly probing words.
Once more, I asserted: I was the one with the questions.
“Whether Pyeonyun is a descendant of a sword master or not, what I’m asking isn’t about her background.”
…
What could be the motive of the Amipa in seeking Pyeonyun?
That was the only thing I was curious about.
As I asked, my voice began to carry some irritation, and Kwonseon’s answer began to change slightly.
“… Pyeonyun is originally from the Amipa.”
“Oh?”
Finally, I heard something intriguing.
‘Eulryeong Geomhu is from the Amipa?’
Yeah, that’s the information I was waiting to hear.
If that statement holds true, it is something I wasn’t aware of.
‘Eulryeong Geomhu was definitely an independent warrior.’
An unaligned warrior.
The previous sword master was neither born of a specific clan nor a disciple of a sect.
So, she hails from the Amipa?
‘How has that information not come to light until now?’
How could the techniques of the Amipa, however bland they may seem, not leave traces behind?
Of course, it’s not impossible to completely erase all remnants.
It’s not like the former sword demon managed to wipe out all of Kwonlin’s habits, as opposed to his current prowess.
Just…
‘That’s because the killer instinct overshadowed many attributes.’
The gentle and soft energy characteristic of the Demonic Arts was completely enveloped by his lethal aura, disguising the essence of his heart technique as being rooted in the Demonic Arts.
‘There’s an unknown element in here.’
For now, let’s set that aside.
What I really needed to know was something more pressing.
“If that’s the reason the Amipa is seeking Pyeonyun, then that’s a bit odd.”
All is well.
If Eulryeong Geomhu was indeed from the Amipa, it would raise peculiarities.
“So then, why are they looking for her?”
A crucial piece was missing.
What significance does being from the Amipa hold for the present?
She had lived as an independent warrior, which indicates she either concealed her background or had already left the sect.
“Searching fervently for the daughter of such a woman seems rather strange, does it not?”
There had to be some alternate reason for searching. Simply seeking her out does not make sense.
To that inquiry, Kwonseon replied.
“Do you know what became of Eulryeong Geomhu?”
“I have a rough idea.”
That was a lie; I knew exactly how things went.
I had gathered a wealth of information for this purpose, so naturally, I would know.
The fate of the Eulryeong Geomhu that Kwonseon mentioned.
A previous sword master, once venerated by the women warriors, a figure close to being regarded as a hero of the righteous sect.
Yet, her ending was more miserable than any other.
‘Eulryeong Geomhu was executed for revealing a plot she never intended to set in motion, and thus was branded as demonic.’
The once dream and hero of the girl warriors was, paradoxically, involved in insidious schemes to engulf the Central Plains.
She covertly gathered demons without the Martial Alliance’s knowledge.
And as a result, a full-blown righteous war erupted.
The tales of the current sword master, Mae-hwa Geomhu So-i, and Baek-ryun Geom Mu-yong-bi, fighting against Eulryeong Geomhu still linger as legendary stories.
The Righteous War was both prolonged yet brief.
In terms of time, it lasted less than two months.
When it concluded, the war ended in victory for the righteous sect.
Eulryeong Geomhu, the instigator of the war, was captured and executed by the alliance.
A woman once hailed as a hero of the righteous sect, but ultimately became an outcast.
That was how history remembered Eulryeong Geomhu.
But…
‘That narrative can’t be the whole truth.’
The reality hidden beneath such tales is murky and grim.
If that were the extent of the history, then I wouldn’t be compelled to use Kwonseon for my own ends.
However…
“… The truth is different.”
Kwonseon seemed to know that too.
“In truth, Eulryeong Geomhu never intended to instigate war. She wasn’t the kind to be unjustly demonized.”
“Is that so?”
“This definitely implies that something hidden is at play.”
I wasn’t sure whether she was pretending to be oblivious to the truth or if she really had a vague understanding of what happened; either way, it’s clear she was aware of something.
“So you’re saying Eulryeong Geomhu was wrongfully accused?”
… You.
Was my reaction a problem? Kwonseon’s expression changed slightly.
“Could it be that you were aware of this as well…?”
“Perhaps due to age, your memory might not be serving you well. As I said before, you do not have the right to ask questions.”
I moved closer to Kwonseon.
The responses were far from over.
“But what about it, then?”
“What…?”
“Why does the Amipa seek Pyeonyun?”
The narrative was in motion; now it was time for her to share her part.
After hearing me, Kwonseon momentarily widened her eyes, then replied in a somewhat hurried voice.
“… That’s only natural. Though it may not seem like it now, Eulryeong Geomhu was from the Amipa. We must clear her name.”
“So you’re seeking Pyeonyun for that reason?”
“Indeed.”
“Why? What difference would it make if she exists?”
… If the child can prove her lineage to the sword master, then there’s a way to do so.
“Ah, I see….”
If Boonsun could prove she’s the daughter of the previous sword master, then there is a means to vindicate the sword master.
Upon hearing Kwonseon’s words, I nodded slightly.
What she said was mostly accurate.
After hearing everything, I let out a slight nod and commented.
“This is something else.”
“Are you?”
Thump.
…!
“Did you think you could treat me lightly because I’ve been so compliant?”
Kwonseon covered her mouth with my hand.
Though she thrashed around in shock, I tightened my grasp, overpowering her.
“If you’re going to plot something, at least try to do it discreetly. It’s frustrating to listen in on.”
Ugh… cough!
Kwonseon’s wrinkled eyes became wide like lanterns.
I applied enough pressure to prevent her from taking a proper breath. The previously pallid hue to Kwonseon’s face paled drastically.
The reason I resorted to such methods was that while listening, a thought that popped into my head began to solidify.
I looked at the startled Kwonseon and said.
“Do you take me for a fool?”
Ugh… cough.
“After all, it was you people who set up the sword master to take the blame. Why is that part conveniently ignored?”
…!
Kwonseon stiffened, her trembling body coming to a standstill.
Her voice, which was barely breathy, ceased.
Seeing this, I felt confirmation wash over me.
“Hah. So it turns out I was right?”
Indeed.
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