Chapter 463 - Get Lost.
*Shaaa.... Shaa....*
Within her hazy consciousness.
Along with an unfamiliar sound, she felt something grabbing and pulling her arm.
*Squeeze.*
At the sensation of something coiling tightly around her arm and trying to drag her somewhere, the woman had no choice but to finally open her eyes.
"..."
Slanted vision came into focus.
Dry, withered tree branches entered her sight.
She tried to move her body immediately, but for some reason, it didn't move well.
Was it exhaustion?
When she exerted strength in her dantian, a sharp pain surged through her. It seemed her energy had completely run out.
"Hngh...."
At the pain felt throughout her body, the Demon Sword Empress let out a groan without realizing it.
She immediately knew why she was feeling this way.
'...Recoil....'
The recoil from forcibly using the Noea.
That was what filled the Demon Sword Empress's body right now.
Her muscles were exhausted, and her mind and body's strength were at rock bottom.
For a while, she would be in a state where she couldn't move.
"...!"
Even so, the Demon Sword Empress somehow moved her head and surveyed her surroundings.
Because there was someone she had to find.
'...Where...?'
Where is he?
The Demon Sword Empress continuously searched for the person, but for some reason, he wasn't in sight.
Where had 'he' gone?
Then, from the Demon Sword Empress's forearm, as she searched with trembling eyes.
*Squeeze.*
She felt a certain sensation.
The Demon Sword Empress lowered her gaze and examined her arm.
"...?"
Doubt clouded the Demon Sword Empress's eyes as she checked her arm.
And for good reason—something was coiled around it.
What was this?
*Shaa...*
A cry was heard.
From her arm.
When she focused her gaze, she could tell.
Something was wriggling.
*Shaaa...!*
It was a snake.
A snake with red scales was—
'...Blue?'
She had thought it was purely crimson for a moment, but upon closer inspection, she could see a blue hue gradually rising from the tail.
No, that wasn't important.
What was important was why this snake was coiled around her arm.
Not only that, but it even seemed to be trying to drag her along.
What was this thing?
*Shaaaa—!*
As if urgent, it cried out and tried to pull her somewhere.
At that strange sensation, the Demon Sword Empress couldn't help but frown.
What was this thing?
Meanwhile, a peculiar energy from the snake was detected by her qi sense.
'It's... not a snake?'
Only then could the Demon Sword Empress discern its true nature.
It was a demon.
To call it an ordinary snake was impossible; the unique energy of a demon was clearly felt.
Did that mean it was attacking her?
She wondered if the demon was trying to attack her, but somehow, that didn't seem to be the case.
*Shaaa—!*
Rather than an attack, it seemed to be trying to take her somewhere.
Wondering what its intention could be, the Demon Sword Empress was about to slightly furrow her brow at the incomprehensible situation, when—
*Huaaaak—!*
"...!"
The Demon Sword Empress's gaze turned somewhere.
Toward the sky.
*Thump-thump-thump!*
Her heart began to pound violently. Her body was reacting instinctively to the overwhelming pressure felt from afar.
The Demon Sword Empress's gaze trembled.
Far away, the clouds parted, and something was appearing from the heavens.
'That is....'
Light was gradually gathering in one place.
A power that felt impossibly distant merely by looking at it.
The condensation of enlightenment. At the tingling sensation running up her spine, the Demon Sword Empress pressed her hand against the ground.
To raise her body.
Mind Sword (心劍).
What was gathering in the sky was undoubtedly a Mind Sword.
Moreover, at the faint lightning qi contained within it, the Demon Sword Empress had to somehow get up.
The reason her flesh was reacting violently was that lightning qi.
In these Central Plains, there was only one person besides the Demon Sword Empress who could manifest such lightning qi.
Furthermore, there were even fewer who could unfold a Mind Sword.
Because she knew that, the Demon Sword Empress had to move.
'...No.'
If left like this, he would die.
With trembling legs, she tried somehow to rise.
Then.
*Huwaaaaaaa—!*
At the continuously surging energy, the Demon Sword Empress's body, which had been half-rising, slumped back down with a thud.
"...!!"
Astonishment filled the Demon Sword Empress's eyes as she examined the air once more.
Behind the Mind Sword presumed to have been unleashed by the Heavenly Lord.
Three even larger and clearer Mind Swords had appeared.
*Tremble tremble tremble.*
The Demon Sword Empress realized her fingers had begun to shake.
It was the instinct of a martial artist reacting.
'...That....'
The Heavenly Lord's Mind Sword made one hesitate with its overwhelming presence.
But those were different.
It wasn't fear or terror she felt now.
Only awe.
The emotion welling in her chest was clearly awe.
A strange sensation of seemingly knowing what intent was contained in the refined Mind Sword, merely by beholding it.
Strength wouldn't enter her loosened legs.
Just what was that? For the Demon Sword Empress, it was an emotion she was feeling for the first time.
*Shaaa—!*
Even in the moment she was entranced by the Mind Sword and briefly swayed, the demon coiled around her arm continued trying to drag her.
She had been wondering just where it was trying to take her, but—
"...Huh?"
The Demon Sword Empress realized that the direction the demon was trying to take her was, surprisingly, exactly where the Mind Swords were rising.
Was it trying to drag her there?
While she couldn't gauge what kind of situation was unfolding.
[... ge... up.]
A voice was heard by her ear.
No, it wasn't a voice heard with her ears, exactly. It would be more accurate to say it was resonating directly in her head.
[Arise.]
A cold, heavy voice was heard once again, one in which emotion was scarcely felt.
"..."
It was the voice of someone the Demon Sword Empress did not like very much.
After all, she tended to avoid using the Noea whenever possible because she didn't want to hear this voice.
But.
This time, she had to listen.
[Go there at once.]
It was the first time.
That emotion was felt in the voice.
For some reason, a faint sense of urgency could be felt in the voice.
She forcibly raised her limping leg.
While rising, her entire body screamed with stabbing pain, but the Demon Sword Empress did not scream once.
There was something more important than pain.
"Haah...."
Clutching her consciousness that felt as though it would snap at any moment.
The Demon Sword Empress walked.
Toward the location where the Mind Swords were rising.
She was certain that the one she sought was there.
******************
The Era of Meteors.
They say this era is called so because geniuses as brilliant as the stars in the sky are born aplenty.
From Sincheol's perspective, it was truly a laughable thing.
The Era of Meteors, and the Era of Peace... if he laughed, it would surely be laughter with many meanings.
One was the pride that their sacrifices had ultimately brought about an era called peace.
The other was a hollow laugh that burst out upon seeing this so-called Era of Meteors.
Would they know?
That unlike now, there was an era called the age of war and devastation, a time of struggling in misfortune.
That there was a time when one had to pick up the sword simply to survive.
A time when one had to swing the sword to protect their martial brothers and sisters.
And that there was a time when one didn't ascend the realms dreaming of enlightenment and greatness, but simply had to do so to survive in this world.
To protect something, strength is needed.
Because Sincheol's era was like that, the young Taoist of Mount Hua had taken up the sword for that reason.
The meaning of having to carry several Mind Swords on one's back to be treated as a proper swordsman.
Meant that only by reaching such a level could one keep precious things within their roots.
Because if one couldn't, one would lose them.
Sincheol remembered his childhood clearly.
He remembered the eldest disciple who died having his heart torn out while protecting the scholars from a high-class demon.
He remembered the martial brother who died having both eyes gouged out while protecting Sincheol's left arm.
He could recall the martial uncle who, to save him from a cliff, gave up his lower body and threw the young Sincheol with his arm.
It was that kind of era.
Without strength, one loses.
There was so, so much to lose if one couldn't swing the sword.
Knowing that, Sincheol swung the sword and raised his realm.
Was it not fortunate?
He had talent. Moreover, he had an unwavering conviction.
He took up the sword desperately.
Thus time passed.
One day, Sincheol succeeded in igniting a single Mind Sword.
It was the realm reached by Sincheol, who had just passed forty and was called the Ghost Blade of Mount Hua.
What had he felt at the time?
Had he been happy to have ignited the Mind Sword?
Not a chance.
He had merely been sad.
Sad that he hadn't been able to draw it out sooner.
Because there were so many young sprouts he hadn't been able to protect, sorrow choked him.
The Mind Sword was the ultimate art drawn out containing such a heart.
Therefore.
"It means you have nothing."
Sincheol acknowledged the Heavenly Lord while looking down on him.
Watching the Heavenly Lord entranced by the Mind Sword, Sincheol's expression coldly darkened.
"Nothing is contained in your sword."
What was contained in the Heavenly Lord's Mind Sword?
What was his conviction?
To Sincheol, the Heavenly Lord merely seemed too low to judge value.
"Your vessel, filled with desire within an empty husk. Is it truly worthy of being called a martial artist (武人)?"
Was the Heavenly Lord a martial artist?
He probably was. He must be.
For one who achieves, cultivates, and advances in martial arts is called a martial artist.
But.
If the value of martial arts (武) within Sincheol were applied to him.
By his standards, the Heavenly Lord was not a martial artist.
If one were to treat him as a martial artist.
Wouldn't it make light of the heroes who roamed the battlefields with him and fell?
In the three swords floating in the sky, Sincheol's will was contained.
In the first: regret at not having become stronger.
In the second: the desire to save the world.
In the third: the longing for peace to come.
"I do not know."
Is this world truly a just world? Sincheol could not say for certain.
*Uuuuuung—!*
Gwijeong wailed.
The accumulated sword energy was growing in size.
"Yet I do not particularly wish to know."
Understanding the changed world was solely the duty of the later generations.
Sincheol's only regret was that he couldn't leave behind a better world.
*Kkigigigik—!*
The Mind Swords moved and aimed at the Heavenly Lord.
The plum blossom eyes that had failed to detect him were still clear.
At that vast gaze, the Heavenly Lord—
"Haah... Haah...."
Suddenly staggering, he fell to one knee.
For some reason, his appearance seemed far older than before.
The battle hadn't started.
The Mind Swords were still merely floating in the air, and yet.
*Pasasak.*
The Heavenly Lord's Mind Sword began to crumble.
Watching that, Sincheol clicked his tongue shortly.
Because he knew why such a phenomenon was appearing.
"How disappointing."
He was crumbling. The Heavenly Lord had lost his fighting spirit.
They hadn't even properly crossed swords yet, but he was collapsing on his own.
Watching that, Sincheol couldn't hide his disappointment.
To crumble the moment he faced a greater wall—was this truly.
'Myeong. Are you saying this is truly your descendant?'
The descendant of Namgung Myeong, the Noecheonilgeom.
He couldn't believe it.
To think that the one among the five who seemed least likely to take a shit on his descendants had taken such a massive one.
'Seems he failed his child-rearing terribly.'
It was enough to draw a hollow laugh.
He had been one who so dearly wished to protect his family.
Just what had he done for things to end up in such a state?
'...'
He felt a complicated mood in many ways.
*Huuuung—!*
Sincheol's Mind Swords floating in the air also slowly scattered.
Erasing their traces because their role was over.
From the start, Sincheol hadn't intended to fight and defeat the Heavenly Lord.
The power of the Mind Sword was great, but it was a bit much to catch up to and finish off the realm the Heavenly Lord had achieved with just that.
Moreover, killing a friend's descendant was itself a disagreeable matter.
Of course....
'If that fellow Myeong had known, he might have killed them all with his own hands.'
Considering the personality of the Noecheonilgeom, it might truly have been so.
However, even if that were the case, carrying that out wasn't Sincheol's role.
*Sreureuk.*
The power of Gwijeong held in his hand released and it returned to its cloth form.
As if the cloth possessed its own will, it wriggled back to his left arm on its own, and soon, bound to the arm, transformed back into a bandage.
He could see the vitality fading from the Heavenly Lord's eyes.
For a martial artist who has lost his will, that is the same as death.
Though he may not be dead as a human, as a martial artist he is no different from dead.
'Over something like this.'
At best, he had merely shown him a higher wall.
To collapse from exhaustion just from that.
'...I cannot understand.'
The more he looked, the more incomprehensible the situation became.
There was much talk about how this was an era of peace.
But this was too low even for that.
Watching the Heavenly Lord, the question that had constantly been on Sincheol's mind grew even larger.
Why were the martial artists of this era so weak?
How could they be so different from the era he lived in?
He didn't know.
Was it truly because it wasn't an era of war?
That couldn't be it.
No matter what, for the difference to be this great was simply strange.
It was the same even looking at the rising stars called the Era of Meteors.
Compared to Sincheol's time, the level of the younger generation was clearly higher now.
But when comparing the martial artists at their prime who could be called elites, their quality felt markedly inferior.
It may not be only the Heavenly Lord.
He couldn't understand how one called the Heaven Beyond Heaven, one of the Three Experts of the Central Plains, could draw out merely a single Mind Sword.
Was it because he was entangled with inner demons?
If not, what other reason could there be?
Sincheol didn't know.
'I do not know.... Ilcheon. Just what did you dream of?'
The memory of the blond friend who said he would lead the way in saving the world came to mind, and his insides felt coldly heavy.
"...You...."
Amidst the silence, as a cold wind blew.
The Heavenly Lord's powerless voice was heard.
The gentleman who had seemed noble had fallen into a powerless old man in a short time.
"...Just what... are you...?"
Words spat out as if staggering.
At the question compressed with many meanings, Sincheol tilted his head.
What was his true nature?
"My true nature...."
He had often heard such words since long ago.
Yet each time, Sincheol's answer had been one.
"A martial artist (武人)."
"..."
"I am merely a martial artist."
An answer without a hint of wavering.
In Sincheol's eyes, he was nothing more than a single martial artist.
Nothing more, nothing less.
The Heavenly Lord's head fell upon hearing this.
That firm answer was almost like.
An answer saying that the Heavenly Lord himself was not a martial artist.
The reason being that even he himself could not bring himself to refute it.
The Heavenly Lord stared helplessly at the ground.
Watching him, Sincheol let out a deep sigh and rubbed his chest.
He had simply been trying to buy time or block him.
Things had unfolded a bit strangely.
Fortunately, it was a good thing, but what mattered in the end was—
'Is he doing well?'
Because it was that worthless fellow who had his eyes closed inside.
'Tsk. This old man has exerted himself like this, so if he doesn't do it properly, I'll spank him this time.'
He'd beat him until his bottom was bright red.
So, if he didn't want that.
'Hurry and open your eyes, you rotten bastard.'
Thinking thus, Sincheol closed his eyes for a moment.
******************
While that was happening.
*Pop—.*
A bubble rose and burst briefly on the water's surface.
Following the faint traces that continued to rise, the view delved deeper inside.
The vast space with no visible end was filled with water.
It was deep and vast, but strangely, no other lifeforms were visible.
Of course, it wasn't devoid of life entirely.
In the center of the place so suffocatingly quiet, there floated a person peacefully, as if asleep.
The young man's face was slightly furrowed, as if uncomfortable.
Was he having a nightmare?
His face contorted strongly then relaxed again repeatedly.
After a long time passed in that manner.
Eventually.
The young man's eyes trembled slightly, and finally his eyelids rose as his eyes gently opened.
"..."
A silent place called the mental realm.
There, Guyangcheon, who had lost consciousness, finally opened his eyes.