“Are you feeling nervous?”
“Ah, no.”
As Sayoon returned to the inn, she took a sip of tea, and the Sword Saint smiled gently.
Her precious youngest disciple looked stiff. It was clear that having her first opponent be Seon Soo Yeon and participating in the first match of the martial arts tournament was weighing heavily on Sayoon’s shoulders.
Still, Sayoon shaking her head was so cute and commendable that the Sword Saint couldn’t help but smile.
“…Actually, I’m a little nervous.”
Was it because those deep, clear black eyes were staring at her? Fiddling with her teacup, Sayoon eventually revealed her true feelings.
Of course, she had no intention of losing.
Compared to the past, she had gotten much stronger.
Glancing up, Sayoon watched Yu Wol busying herself with her work for the shop.
Right. It all started with the two of them.
Then she received a letter from Mister.
After that, she met Yu Wol.
Since then, she had grown stronger with the help of many people.
But even so, Sayoon knew her place.
No, perhaps it was because she had grown stronger that her anxiety had intensified.
“I know about Seon Soo Yeon.”
“Hmm. Is that so?”
Chaeran had told her when they were on their way to the legendary land of Hwa Gwang. She was so talented that the lord of Cheonhwa Palace personally came to retrieve her.
Not only that, she was also the child of a renowned family in the Huabuk Seon clan.
Since childhood, she had received support from her family, laying the foundation for her martial arts alongside taking spiritual pills, and she was recognized for her talent, garnering the expectations of many.
And although she was the youngest, her talent and passion had been recognized, allowing her to grow rapidly even in Cheonhwa Palace.
Her martial skills and growth rate were far superior to other disciples in Cheonhwa Palace.
Some disciples who were jealous of her had attacked her, but she was strong enough to overcome that, and her understanding of Hongseong Divine Art was exceptional as well.
The person who had been told to her was someone in a position completely opposite to hers.
“I see.”
The Sword Saint nodded slightly.
“Regardless of your origins, what matters is the present. Isn’t worrying too much about that unnecessary?”
“I know that…”
But knowing and accepting are two different things.
Sayoon sighed softly, and the Sword Saint looked at her and smiled.
“Can you step out for a moment?”
“Ah. Yes.”
The Sword Saint led Sayoon to the backyard. Standing in this space, which she had grown quite accustomed to, Sayoon felt her heart calm down a bit.
Towards her, the Sword Saint slowly reached out a hand.
“Excuse me?”
“Come at me.”
“Ah. Yes.”
Could it be that the Sword Saint was going to spar with her directly?
Sayoon quickly drew her sword. It had now become completely natural for her to emit light from the sword. Seeing the dazzling array of colors wrapping around the sword, the Sword Saint extended her hand leisurely.
It became natural. The Sword Saint saw the vibrant, multicolored light enveloping the sword and casually reached out her hand.
– Whoooooooosh!!
It was simply a light gesture. However, the immense energy contained within it felt like a tsunami. Sayoon felt herself shaking violently, like a leaf caught in a storm, even as she summoned the Hongseong Divine Art to resist that force, her body merely wobbled lightly.
“You’ll realize just how insignificant you are before such colossal power.”
The Master’s voice, revealing fury like a storm, was clear.
“Everything will have no choice but to submit.”
If one could wield the destructive power of Hongseong, then all else becomes meaningless.
In the end, everything would be destroyed.
In the end, everything would submit.
Sword Saint watched as Sayoon, shaking this way and that, desperately regained her posture and tried to summon the Hongseong Divine Art’s inner strength to resist; she couldn’t help but smile.
Regardless of everything, Sayoon’s talent was remarkable.
Moreover, the will to resist that resided within her.
And supporting that will were perhaps the gratitude towards those who had helped her until now, and a desire to repay their expectations.
That might eventually become her Simma, but for now, the Sword Saint understood that it provided a stepping stone for Sayoon’s growth.
“She’s certainly grown.”
Not just her martial arts, but her heart had expanded.
When he first picked her up, her tiny heart looked like it could extinguish at any moment; however, after meeting many students of the Hongseong Clan and connecting with others, it had grown greatly.
Though she had momentarily faltered, with such a grand heart and such a strong will, she would quickly rise again after a setback.
Thus, the Sword Saint waved her hand toward Sayoon.
– Whoooooooosh!!
Like being swept away by a fierce wave, Sayoon took a step back. One step, then another.
But that was all. The sword in her hand still shone brightly, and her eyes did not close.
Locking gazes with the Sword Saint, Sayoon gritted her teeth and stepped forward again.
One step, another step.
And one more step.
Seeing her resist, the Sword Saint slowly relaxed her energy.
“Ha, haaa…”
Finally, Sayoon collapsed onto the ground. As she let out a deep breath, the Sword Saint spoke to her nonchalantly.
“Do you understand now? What matters is strength, and the will to harness that strength. Think of those who have nurtured you until now. Think of those who have reached out to you. Think of everyone you’ve met. Their help and hearts will serve as a foundation for you.”
Nodding at the Sword Saint’s warm words, Sayoon understood.
“And thus, the strengthened power is the foundation for learning the Great Sword Techniques of the Hongseong Divine Art.”
The Great Sword Techniques of the Hongseong Divine Art.
Sword Technique.
The most powerful and destructive of the Hongseong Divine Art.
Right now, Sayoon had been granted permission to learn the final eating sword technique of that Hongseong Divine Art.
“If you want, I’ll teach you the Great Sword Technique starting today.”
Sayoon recalled Hongryeon. The great sword she wielded had the power to destroy everything, literally.
And as her gaze slowly shifted, Sayoon watched the Sword Saint.
The Sword Saint could freely use all techniques of the Hongseong Divine Art, but she too mainly wielded the great sword.
“…Then should I discard this sword?”
“No? Just because you learn the Great Sword Technique doesn’t mean you stop using other techniques. Of course, you’ll need to find a separate great sword.”
The Sword Saint said casually while extending her hand to Sayoon.
“Think about it again. What you need to consider now isn’t something trivial like your origins.”
You should only focus on moving forward and growing.
Nodding silently at the Sword Saint’s words, Sayoon kept her mouth shut.
After lunch at the inn had ended, it was time to return to Hongseong Clan. Hongryeon and Chaejin were already upstairs, and as Chaeran mentioned she was bored and wanted to go with them, a voice broke Sayoon’s solitary thinking in the backyard.
“Do you have any worries?”
Hongseong Clan was a women’s sect.
Thus, it was unfamiliar for a man’s, especially such a low voice, to be accustomed here, but now it sounded calm in her ears as its owner approached her.
Yu Wol. The innkeeper of this very inn.
“Oh! Innkeeper.”
“I heard from the Sword Saint earlier.”
“Aha…”
Sayoon let out a dry laugh. The Sword Saint mentioned it.
Well, Senior Sister too, but the Master often relied on the Innkeeper.
No, maybe many disciples of Hongseong Clan relied on Yu Wol.
After all, the incense bag and herbs made and sent not long ago were important sources of income for Hongseong Clan.
It could be that this man right in front of her was greatly contributing to the survival of the Hongseong Clan.
Even so, without showing any trace of that, and instead wanting to do even more, Sayoon slowly shook her head as she looked up at him.
“It’s not something the Innkeeper should worry about…”
“Is that so?”
He didn’t pry any further. That was reassuring.
Now that she thought about it, Yu Wol always was like that. He would just stand steadfast and look out for her whenever things got tough.
Like a Mister.
Gently raising her head, Sayoon let out a deep sigh.
“My Master suggested I try learning the Great Sword Technique.”
“Oh. That’s something worth celebrating. But why?”
“It’s definitely something I can do. But why?”
“Um… I’m really worried about whether I can actually do it. The Great Sword Technique of Hongseong Divine Art is, quite literally, the essence of Hongseong Divine Art.”
Countless martial artists have been swept away by immense power.
Of course, the Sword Saint said it would be fine. But what if she ends up breaking that expectation?
What would happen if she got swept away and went down the wrong path?
Sayoon recalled the time she fought Hwaho.
Thinking back to that moment when Simma almost led her into blood and destruction, she couldn’t help but wonder if mastering the Great Sword Technique was truly the right choice.
“They say those who possess power should always fear that power.”
“Um… Is that so?”
“You fear that power and worry about what could happen to you if it goes awry, right? If you keep that in mind, I don’t think you’ll be easily swayed by that power.”
Yu Wol’s calm words made Sayoon smile brightly.
Even though it was advice from someone who didn’t know martial arts, it somehow eased the nagging anxiety in her heart.
“Are you worried that the other senior sisters might get jealous?”
“Ah, no.”
In the Hongseong Clan, disciples bless the growth of others and think to grow stronger themselves, but there’s nobody who would get jealous and try to sabotage.
As Sayoon quickly denied it, Yu Wol chuckled softly.
“Simma exists within everyone, but if you remain aware and fearful of it, you can control it just fine. And…”
Yu Wol played with her hair and spoke confidently.
“I believe you can definitely do it.”
“Hahaha… Hearing that from the Innkeeper gives me strength.”
Sayoon nodded and smiled at Yu Wol.
It was quite late in the story when Sayoon began to master the Great Sword Technique in Heavenly Bright Moon.
Even then, she interpreted and used it as an offshoot by enlightening herself, and those who faced or witnessed the Great Sword Technique of Hongseong Divine Art mentioned that Sayoon’s version was clumsy.
And honestly, that was to be expected.
In the Hongseong Divine Art, the Great Sword Technique is the most important one based on all forms—if you can’t learn it properly, you can’t use it.
Of course, there are those, like Hyunhwi and some other disciples, who focus more on other forms rather than the Great Sword Technique.
Still, no one could deny that the most important thing in Hongseong Divine Art was the Great Sword Technique.
Naturally, if you aren’t prepared, it doesn’t make sense to be able to learn it, yet the Sword Saint had entrusted it to Sayoon.
In other words, this meant Sayoon had learned it properly, and that also proved that everything I, and we, have done until now hasn’t been in vain.
So, how could I not be moved?
That’s why I kept my composure as much as possible and said,
“It will definitely happen.”
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