Chapter 60: The Fall of Plum Blossom Dragon (3)
None of it was welcoming.
The sound of rainfall pat pat pat, the moonlight that didn’t know its place, and the breeze that brushed against his hair whoosh.
Everything felt uninviting.
Amidst his thoughts, the woman asked,
“…Are you crying?”
Crying? Don’t be ridiculous, it’s obviously just the rain!
The man responded harshly, but the woman’s hand touched his cheek.
Normally, he would have slapped it away, but this time he endured it.
“You…really aren’t.”
“Looks like you want me to.”
He had endured far too much.
He believed there was nothing left inside him capable of producing tears.
“…Disappointing.”
The woman’s voice lacked emotion.
Even as death approached, her indifference remained.
Could it be that after witnessing countless deaths, she became numb to it all?
The woman was missing one arm and had a gaping hole in her chest.
The reason she lingered on this side of life, despite wounds that should have claimed her life, was probably due to her status as a master martial artist.
Yet, even that was running out.
“Why did you do this?”
The man asked, unable to comprehend her actions.
In that last moment, the sword had aimed at him.
Even though she could have survived, she chose to take his place.
The man was left confused.
No, he didn’t want to understand.
He should have been the one lying there.
That was what he had accepted ever since the war began.
But the woman had interfered.
And it ignited his anger.
Yes, he was angry about it. He convinced himself that was the reason the anger boiled within him.
The woman gently stroked the man’s cheek.
The overwhelming sound of rain made him feel nauseous.
“Don’t cry.”
He tried to push her hand away.
But clutching her frail wrist, he found himself unable to follow through.
“…Don’t cry.”
She kept repeating the same words to him. Her eyes were already closed, so what did it matter if she couldn’t see anything?
Was it pity?
Or was it meaningless camaraderie?
He couldn’t grasp any of it.
“…I told you I’m not crying.”
“Don’t… cry.”
Her hair, once vibrant and blue-tinted, lost its luster as it soaked up the rainwater.
Oddly enough, the moonlight that he despised the most had to vanish just when he desired it the most.
“…Is the moon still up…?”
The woman queried softly.
Looking up at the sky, he saw only dark clouds pouring rain without a pause.
The woman adored the moon.
She spent countless moments perched on a rock, staring at it.
He recalled each and every one of those times she gazed up at the moon in a daze.
“…Yes, it’s up there.”
With the dark clouds and rain completely blocking it, there was no way the moon was visible.
Both knew this fact.
They simply pretended to be oblivious.
“…Are you next to me?”
The question slipped from the woman’s lips.
He chuckled at such a silly inquiry.
“You’re touching my cheek, and you’re still asking that?”
It almost looked as though a smile appeared on her face for a fleeting moment.
Did she really smile? He wondered if he had seen it wrong.
“…We’re both here, thank goodness.”
What could she possibly be relieved about?
He couldn’t voice that question.
Because those were her last words before she departed this world.
Hurriedly, he lowered the woman’s hand.
It didn’t seem possible to take her body with him, nor was he able to bury her.
She surely wouldn’t want that, and the situation left no room for such an act anyway.
“Found you!”
Slowly turning toward the voice behind, he encountered a throng of martial artists—tens, perhaps hundreds—facing him.
All were garbed in a white outfit adorned with blue accents, emblazoned with the word “Pledge.”
Leading them was a striking man, handsome enough to be chiseled from stone, unsheathing his sword.
“Thankfully, you couldn’t run that far.”
The man sported a look of firm resolve and dedication to upholding justice.
He had to suppress the shiver that crept up his spine at the very sight of that handsome figure.
“…Meteor Sword.”
Jang Seongyeon, the Meteor Sword—a name whispered as the future of the Orthodox Faction.
He quietly spoke the name aloud.
At his calling, the Meteor’s brow twitched ever so slightly.
Next to him, a woman shouted angrily before he could utter a single word.
“How dare you! Don’t you dare speak our leader’s name with your filthy mouth!”
The man remained silent.
The rain poured down harder, feeling heavier, almost suffocating.
“…I keep forgetting.”
He rubbed his face out of tiredness.
Yes, he kept forgetting.
Forgetting why he stood there, what role he had in this twisted play.
Over and over, the realities slipped away.
“…The Heavenly Demon will soon be killed. Just surrender!”
A smirk escaped at Meteor’s proclamation.
He tried to hold back the laughter but ultimately failed.
“Lord will soon be killed? Who will do that?”
“The Heavenly Demon is currently fighting against the Heavenly Venerables—”
“Oh, the Heavenly Venerables? You left them to handle the Heavenly Demon while you came here to capture a mere soldier like me?”
The grin on his lips widened.
The expression on the Meteor’s face twisted into a frown.
Finally, he managed to rein in his laughter.
“Right, let’s get this started… if I don’t do it properly, everyone will throw a fit again.”
Taking a step forward,
Flames erupted from his feet like a roaring inferno, quickly engulfing the entire forest.
Amid the martial artists bracing for combat, he focused solely on the Meteor.
With a blank expression, he returned the Meteor’s gaze and spoke,
“You pathetic bastard.”
The Meteor’s mouth twitched with agitation, but his expression was quickly hidden by the raging flames that devoured the space around them.
Fire spread rapidly, consuming the entire forest, leaving nothing in its wake within mere moments.
As reported to the Murim Alliance—“The demon had fled. The only survivor of the incident was the Meteor who lived, while the others were turned to ash.”
*
“Duel.”
I choked at Namgung Bi-ah’s response.
Memories that sprang up uncontrollably were always filled with revolting images.
Why now? Why did I suddenly remember that incident? Of all times, why now?
Unable to face Namgung Bi-ah, I averted my gaze.
It felt as though merely looking at her could unravel something terrifying again.
“…Didn’t you see I just finished a duel?”
I had just come from a match against Yung Pung.
Surely Namgung Bi-ah had witnessed it with the others, right?
So why would she ask for a duel immediately after that?
At my question, Namgung Bi-ah’s lips formed an adorably sulky pout.
Such a face was a rarity.
I couldn’t fathom her making that expression in my previous life.
It felt apparent every time something like this occurred; she truly was different from the Demon Sword of my memories, yet an odd feel lingered in my heart whenever I glanced at her.
“You sure are inconsistent. Just pick one thing already; it’s annoying.”
“Your words are getting harsher and harsher, Elder.”
“Hmph.”
Had he been upset that one of his clan was defeated, even when he was the one who desired a duel?
Nah, there’s no way he’d be that petty, right…?
“…You rotten piece of trash.”
“…I wasn’t wrong, it seems…”
His bias towards the clan became painfully evident.
“That doesn’t matter here. It’s the lord’s duty to care for their own children.”
“Then what are you so mad about?”
“…Just frustrated seeing one defeated no matter how spectacular the plum blossoms shone. Back in my day, it was never like this…!”
“…What do you mean—”
“Kids these days… sigh… That’s not how you use that technique.”
I opted to ignore him entirely.
Refocusing my attention on Namgung Bi-ah, I spoke,
“Are you being stubborn because I rejected you?”
Was she miffed because I turned down her duel for Yung Pung’s?
I must have hit a nerve as her eyes flickered at my remark.
“…I’m not sulking.”
Her voice trembled slightly.
“It sounds like you are.”
“I’m… not.”
“Are you sure about that?”
But then why is she avoiding my gaze? Was she always capable of displaying such emotions?
Whether it stemmed from her youth or an intrinsic quality of hers, I couldn’t ascertain that.
Yet, a curiosity nagged at me regarding her.
“Lady Namgung.”
“…Hmm?”
“Do you like the moon?”
She tilted her head at the unexpected query.
It was so out of the blue that it was no surprise she seemed puzzled.
After pondering for a moment and rolling her eyes, she finally replied,
“Not really…?”
I couldn’t help but smirk at her answer.
“So she didn’t like the moon, huh.”
I could’ve sworn she had expressed affection for it before.
Perhaps she never verbalized it directly?
“…?”
Upon noticing her puzzlement, I continued,
“The duel… Let’s save it for next time.”
“…!”
Namgung Bi-ah’s eyes widened at my words.
Was she really that surprised by my suggestion to delay?
“…Will you duel with me?”
“Only if you use formal speech.”
“Young Master?”
“…Never mind. Do as you wish.”
Honestly, I had half given up by this point.
This stubbornness would likely be an unshakeable habit of hers.
I had spent my energy and would soon feel thoroughly drained.
Though I had managed control, this was a rough technique ill-suited for prolonged use—I was certain my body would pay the price soon.
Most likely, I’d be suffering once I laid down.
“I hope you get sleep paralysis.”
“Are you really going to act this way? How could a ghost wish harm on his host?”
“Act my age!? You little brat…!”
I felt a headache creeping in from the unholy shouting of the old man in my head.
While I wrapped my hands around my temples, Namgung Bi-ah approached me.
“What’s wrong?”
“My head is just—”
Suddenly, her hand touched my cheek.
This triggered those earlier memories, significantly overlapping with the moment.
“It’s burning…”
“Don’t cry.”
An ominous sensation swelled as the two scenes collided, causing me to reflexively swat away Namgung Bi-ah’s hand.
“…?”
Namgung Bi-ah switched her gaze between her slapped hand and toward me, perplexed.
I had acted too rashly.
Clearing my throat, I offered a hasty apology for my misconduct.
“I’m sorry, I was just surprised.”
“You can’t even accept gifts with gratitude.”
She nodded in response to my apology, indicating she was okay with it.
“Then… next time.”
After her words, Namgung Bi-ah turned and walked away.
Was it just my impression, or did her steps seem a bit lighter, almost joyful?
As I observed her, Elder Shin chimed in,
“You didn’t want to do it, so what changed your mind?”
“When did I ever say such a thing?”
“Up until now, there was hesitation in your thoughts regarding the duel…”
“She appeared desperate to fight, so I merely complied.”
“If you duel her, please control yourself this time.”
“Control what?”
“Be more cautious with your Qi usage, whether it’s the beastly skills or whatever else.”
Elder Shin’s words perplexed me; they didn’t seem to be a jest anymore.
“I ended up dealing with the fallout from your Qi frenzy.”
“…Huh?”
“What did you consume to let such a monstrous thing lie within you? Do you want me to suffer like this?”
“You’re dead! Why are you even talking about suffering?”
His response was a cacophony of indignation within my mind.
Blocking my ears wouldn’t silence him, elevating the annoyance further.
Despite engaging in banter, genuine trouble lurked in my reality.
If my Qi usage drove it wild…
Elder Shin’s words were an unwelcome caution.
I could harness my abilities freely now, yet suddenly found issues rising inside me?
What could this be?
Whether it sprang from the relic or existed within me originally was beyond my grasp.
The thought that Elder Shin could be lying flitted as a possibility, but I wasn’t sure what to think.
I hoped to find answers upon reaching Mount Hua.
Though I sensed there might not be clarity waiting for me, there were no alternatives available.
Is this something I must deal with later?
I couldn’t act on it here in the wilderness.
I left the Mount Hua public to handle their business with Yung Pung, returning to my camp.
Upon arrival, I felt something was off, and after some thought, it dawned on me that Wi Seol-Ah hadn’t rushed out to greet me.
“…What? Did she actually go somewhere?”
It wasn’t a given that she’d always welcome me, but her absence felt a bit unsettling.
I stopped a passing attendant to inquire.
“Seol-Ah was with her grandpa earlier.”
Relieved by the response, I realized there was truly nothing to worry about with the Sword Emperor around.
…From tomorrow on, we’ll be traveling with Namgung Bi-ah, huh?
“…You’re lucky she’s packing—”
While I pondered what to do, Elder Shin chimed in.
“…Elder Shin, you’re not actually a Taoist, are you?”
“You little brat… How dare you imply that about the ancestor of a Taoist clan!?”
Whatever way I looked at it, this fellow should not have risen to the position of Lord of the Mount Hua Sect…
Much less the Divine Sword of Mount Hua.
That would be a disgrace to both present and future Mount Hua Sect members.
“…I know you can hear me, right?”
“Yes, and that’s precisely why I’m saying it. Don’t worry.”
“How truly wretched of you.”
After the duel concluded, night deepened significantly.
Any longer, and tomorrow would become a real struggle, so it was time for bed.
I felt slightly guilty for Yung Pung; I might have gone a bit too far in our duel.
“A bit too far? You say that after incinerating those flowers?!”
“…I figured he’d manage just fine.”
If this broke him, he likely wouldn’t overcome his barriers anyway.
Despite the urge to wash away the sweat from the duel, the laziness overtook me, leading to my decision to sleep instead.
“…It’s disgusting to sleep in this state.”
As always, I completely disregarded Elder Shin’s remarks.
*
Wi Seol-Ah was enjoying a long-overdue conversation with the Sword Emperor.
Their chats usually revolved around him recounting tales from his past while she listened intently, soaking in the stories surrounding her.
As her eyelids grew heavy, she suddenly posed a question she’d long desired to ask the Sword Emperor.
“Grandpa.”
“Hmm?”
“What’s a fiancé?”
“…Huh?”
A peculiar look spread across the Sword Emperor’s face upon her inquiry.
Whether it was absence of knowledge in basic matters or failure in his teaching methods, he felt a bit at fault.
Though he didn’t grasp the intentions behind her abrupt question, he figured her curiosity was typical; she often asked strange things, such as whether an eagle or a hawk tasted better.
Thinking this was probably just another one of her odd questions, he answered,
“A fiancé is…”
“Yeah…!”
Wi Seol-Ah’s expression grew darker as she absorbed the Sword Emperor’s explanation.
Oblivious to her change in demeanor, the Sword Emperor continued to elaborate on the topic.
The next day,
Wi Seol-Ah did not speak to Namgung Bi-ah.
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