〈 Episode 552 〉 Wudang.
“…What are you doing…?”
The first words from Guryeonghwa, who had finished her morning training at daybreak, upon seeing the situation unfolding before her.
“What is it?”
Guryeonghwa looked at her older brother, who was yawning beside her, and asked.
At that, Guyangcheon roughly rubbed the sleep from his eyes and spat out a reply.
“Can’t you see? They’re dueling.”
“No, I mean….”
She wanted to ask why they were suddenly doing that right now.
Guryeonghwa forcibly swallowed down the words she wanted to say.
Because beyond that, she had a mountain of things she wanted to say.
*What the hell, really?*
Forcibly suppressing her cheeks that were puffing up on their own, Guryeonghwa narrowed her eyes.
Above the gravel bed where the valley stream flowed.
Two young men stood facing each other.
One was a neat, tidy young man wearing the white martial robe symbolizing the Huashan Sect.
The other was a young man with pale skin wearing an old martial robe that looked like he’d picked it up somewhere.
According to what Guryeonghwa had heard, he was an acquaintance of her older brother, and someone her martial cousin knew.
*I think she said he was from the Kunlun Sect.*
It wasn’t something Guryeonghwa could know well.
She had never seen a Taoist from the Kunlun Sect either, but that young man was quite heterogeneous to be called a Taoist.
*Something… chilly.*
Cold and sharp.
That was the impression Guryeonghwa had upon seeing the young man.
“Are those two really dueling?”
“That’s why they’re standing there.”
Guyangcheon’s uniquely insolent tone grated on Guryeonghwa’s ears.
*This brother of mine, seriously.*
He hadn’t sent a single reply to the dozens of letters she’d sent.
And even though they hadn’t seen each other in a long time, this was his attitude.
*We weren’t that close, but isn’t this a bit too much?*
The days when the siblings had been close were a thing of the distant past.
So it was only natural that things were somewhat awkward and uncomfortable.
But Guryeonghwa had made her own efforts to try to mend that.
Yet, with him acting this way, it was a point that made even Guryeonghwa angry.
Feeling this, Guryeonghwa forcibly suppressed her anger.
Because now was not the time to express such things.
Guryeonghwa looked at her good-for-nothing older brother and asked.
“Do you really think that person can win against Martial Cousin Yeongpung?”
She had heard. If that pale young man won this duel.
They would tell them why they were heading to Wudang.
Hearing this, Guryeonghwa had to make a dumbfounded expression.
*That’s absurd.*
At a glance, the opponent was a martial artist around Yeongpung’s age.
And aside from being tall, he looked frail in muscle.
A body that looked like it would break if you tapped it, perhaps from not eating well.
Could such a person really defeat Yeongpung?
*Impossible.*
Guryeonghwa asserted.
It couldn’t be.
If it were anyone else, maybe, but if it was Yeongpung, it was a different story.
Who is Yeongpung?
The youngest Plum Blossom Swordsman of the Huashan Sect.
And a prodigy currently evaluated as the greatest talent of Huashan.
Moreover, now that he had even obtained that person’s fortuitous encounter.
It was certain that Yeongpung would soar even faster.
A junior martial artist of the same generation who could defeat such a Yeongpung?
In Guryeonghwa’s eyes, there was none.
*No….*
As she thought, Guryeonghwa looked to the side.
There was Guyangcheon, yawning yet again.
“…”
Not in Guryeonghwa’s opinion, but it seemed there was one more person who saw someone as superior to himself.
That someone was this man.
*…Why…?*
As if feeling someone was talking about him.
Guyangcheon was diligently digging at his ear with a disgruntled expression.
The sight was quite unsightly.
*…Why on earth?*
Because Guryeonghwa had taken quite an interest in Guyangcheon, she knew of his deeds and rumors from the past.
The True Dragon who dominated the Dragon Phoenix Conference and received the name of the Dragon.
Afterwards, immediately upon earning the moniker of the youngest peak master.
The horrific incident that occurred at the Divine Dragon Hall, where he stopped a master of the demonic faction and cut short the massacre, becoming a hero.
And even the new alias, the Little Yama, that he received as a result.
At the time, Guyangcheon’s name had spread throughout the Central Plains to the point of causing an uproar.
It’s just that no one believed the contents of the rumors.
Even Guryeonghwa, his blood relative.
Do you know what nickname followed Guyangcheon after the “youngest peak master”?
*The youngest Transformation Realm master? That’s absurd.*
Even as rumors, the stories were far too excessive.
There were things one could overlook even if they were family, and things one couldn’t.
Because Guryeonghwa was also a martial artist, she could tell how nonsensical those rumors were.
*That man couldn’t possibly do such things.*
When she saw him at Huashan.
Guryeonghwa had heard that Guyangcheon had resolved a certain incident to some degree.
But she had never seen him fight directly.
She had only heard that he had miraculously defeated a peak master like a miracle.
So, he wasn’t just a reckless good-for-nothing.
He did possess talent.
That was all she could see.
Unlike such a Guryeonghwa, Yeongpung seemed to see Guyangcheon differently.
Even when the rumor that he had dominated the Dragon Phoenix Conference spread.
*As expected, it’s Young Hero Gu.*
Even when the rumor of the youngest peak master spread.
*As expected… it’s Young Hero Gu!*
Even when he returned to the Huashan Sect after the Divine Dragon Hall incident.
*…As expected… it was Young Hero Gu….*
That was the phrase Yeongpung kept on his lips.
When his realm rose.
When the plum blossoms contained within his sword gradually grew more splendid.
Where Yeongpung looked was always one place.
Because he wanted to surpass someone.
Because he wanted to reach someone.
Yeongpung’s eyes were gazing at something far away.
Guryeonghwa thought that something was Guyangcheon.
But she had no idea why Yeongpung looked at Guyangcheon that way.
Anyway.
If he was going to duel such a Yeongpung, she had naturally thought it would be Guyangcheon.
But seeing him do that with an opponent she’d never even heard of, Guryeonghwa couldn’t understand it.
“Why, you think he’ll lose?”
“…”
Though Guryeonghwa did not give an answer to Guyangcheon’s question.
It was an affirmation.
At that reaction, Guyangcheon smiled slightly.
Seeing that, Guryeonghwa’s brow furrowed.
“Why are you smiling?”
“No, I just thought it was a natural reaction.”
It seemed Guyangcheon was also aware that the current situation was strange.
But.
“Anyway, just watch.”
Guyangcheon’s eyes were the same as always.
“I don’t think it’ll go entirely as expected.”
At those words.
Guryeonghwa slowly shifted her gaze back to the two men.
*
Swooooosh…!
The sound of the waterfall spreading around the valley.
The faintly blowing wind and the slowly moving clouds.
Within the quiet atmosphere, Yeongpung looked straight ahead.
He saw a young man holding a sword.
Disheveled hair and pale skin were impressive.
Movements from which internal energy could not be felt at all.
Looking at such a young man, Yeongpung slightly shifted his gaze.
It was in the direction where Guyangcheon was.
He was showing off his characteristic narrow eyes and watching the two of them with interest.
*What are you thinking?*
Seeing him, Yeongpung thought.
Just what was Guyangcheon thinking?
Why had he made him face Taoist Seong?
Could it be that he thought he was still lacking to face him? Recalling this, Yeongpung smiled bitterly.
*It’s not wrong.*
Yeongpung could tell the moment he saw Guyangcheon.
*…I can’t feel anything.*
He could barely sense even a sliver of presence.
He could not grasp Guyangcheon’s realm.
This meant that Guyangcheon’s realm was at a place significantly higher than Yeongpung’s.
He had been that way in the past too, but Guyangcheon felt like he had risen to a much higher sky than back then.
That fact.
*As expected.*
Yeongpung felt it was rather welcome.
Whenever he tried to move forward somehow, that man was further ahead.
He even increased his speed and went faster, further.
Watching that, Yeongpung had moved desperately to follow.
When he first saw him.
The one who made him realize he was a frog in a well was Guyangcheon.
He broke the arrogance that had been building walls.
And set a goal for him that would not stop.
A goal he could run toward without rest.
As much as that.
*I wondered if I had gotten a little closer.*
Unfortunately, he thought, it was still far.
*…Even after receiving that person’s energy.*
Having inherited the Will of a great person, yet still insufficient.
*Just how far do you intend to go?*
Yeongpung found such a Guyangcheon amazing.
How far did he intend to go? How could he lead the way at such speed?
Whenever Yeongpung fell even a little into arrogance and tried to raise his shoulders.
It felt like Guyangcheon came and pressed him down.
Though it was exhausting, the reason it was welcome was perhaps because Yeongpung was not in his right mind either.
Recalling that, it was also slightly amusing.
But.
*Whatever the case.*
Guyangcheon always had his own intentions.
This time would be the same, surely.
Though he felt regret at not being able to duel Guyangcheon, and a faint dissatisfaction at having been matched with Seongyul.
Yeongpung believed in Guyangcheon.
And raised his sword toward his opponent.
“I look forward to it, Taoist Seong.”
“…”
At Yeongpung’s words, Seongyul merely silently raised his sword.
There was no reply.
Moreover, an unsettling energy could be felt in full.
Seeing that, Yeongpung had to tilt his head inwardly.
*What is it?*
Why was he swaying like that?
He did not know.
However, he would not let his guard down.
The fact that Guyangcheon had gone through the trouble of matching him with Seongyul meant he had judged Seongyul to be someone of worth.
“Please begin.”
As the voice fell.
Yeongpung immediately unleashed his qi.
Whooooosh…! Starting from his dantian, an enormous qi burst forth.
Soon, it began spreading in all directions, piercing through his flesh.
*Ugh…!*
Feeling the qi devouring its surroundings, Yeongpung swallowed a groan inwardly.
It was too strong.
The quantity of qi was so great he couldn’t control it.
Moreover, it was rough.
*The petals are churning.*
That was his impression.
Roughness mixed with the plum blossom petals that had swayed gently.
It was impossible to control perfectly.
Yeongpung could only barely wrap the qi around his body and regulate the amount he emitted.
Thud-!
The footwork that should have been light carried weight.
Just like that.
Kuuung-!
Yeongpung shot forth like an arrow.
“Oh.”
Seeing such a Yeongpung, Guyangcheon let out a small exclamation of admiration.
Shhhhriek-!
An immense qi coiled around the blade cutting through the air.
*Soft.*
Though Yeongpung was breaking into a cold sweat wielding that sword.
Guyangcheon’s impression was different.
Huashan’s sword path contained lightness and softness.
As if flower petals were scattering.
As it was called the Plum Blossom Sword Technique, it was full of a refreshing feeling.
A sword technique considered exceptionally beautiful.
That was what the people of the Central Plains said upon seeing Huashan’s sword.
*But they don’t know how difficult that is.*
Most people did not know the meaning contained within.
*That the sword path is soft means, in other words, that it is difficult to put strength into.*
To add sharpness to such a sword without violating the sword path.
Just how delicate a control was required.
Most would not know.
Also.
*That’s why the martial artists of Huashan are outstanding physically too.*
In the past, when he had visited the Huashan Sect.
He had been surprised by their absurd muscle training and sturdy physiques.
Now he knew.
*To use that sword properly, a body that is forcibly necessary.*
Huashan’s sword required a high degree of delicacy.
To control that, one had to endure the strain on one’s body.
And to use such a soft sword, one also had to possess firm lower body strength.
Only then.
Shhhhriek-!
Could one use Huashan’s sword properly.
Yeongpung’s sword cut through the air.
The qi spreading from his body intertwined with the sword and soared.
That appearance was just like scattering flower petals.
Watching that, Guyangcheon smiled.
*The quality is different.*
Around the time they first met.
Yeongpung, who had barely managed to make a plum blossom bloom.
Such a Yeongpung was now in full bloom.
Not the shallow petals he had shown back then.
But the real petals shown by true Plum Blossom Swordsmen.
Hwaaaaak-!
Though it was a pity he couldn’t properly control his energy.
Even taking that into account, it was an incredible sight.
*Yeongpung has already broken through too.*
From the realm of junior martial artists. He had broken free of that as well.
To me, if that appearance of Yeongpung were to properly spread through the Central Plains.
He seemed worthy of inheriting the title of Sword Dragon.
And if that happened, perhaps.
*In about ten years, he could even set his sights on the position of Sword King.*
Perhaps even sooner than that.
To that extent, Yeongpung’s talent was blooming.
*He’s different from his past life.*
To me, Yeongpung was one of the few people who had changed for the better compared to his past life.
The prodigy who had collapsed under the weight of his own talent was gone.
And in his place was Yeongpung, who had found his path without being blocked by his talent.
Though Yeongpung’s appearance was shining along with the petals.
*Still.*
The opponent of such a Yeongpung would not be easy either.
Klang-!
The sound of swords clashing.
As a clear sound rang out.
“…Huh?”
At the same time, a surprised voice was heard from beside Guyangcheon.
It was Guryeonghwa’s voice.
She was making a considerably surprised expression.
And she had every reason to be.
Klang-! Screeeech-!
The sword of Yeongpung, called the greatest talent who had broken through the realm of junior martial artists.
“…What… is that…?”
Seongyul was receiving and deflecting it without any difficulty.
*The opponent is, after all, a Sword King candidate.*
If the title of Sword Queen was later taken by the Demon Sword Queen.
No one had taken the position of Sword King in the previous life.
Because it hadn’t been long since the Demon Sword Queen killed her father, the Blue Heaven Sword King.
Due to that, the position of Sword King had been vacant.
But there had been people who could be called candidates.
At the time, since Huashan was destroyed and Yeongpung had also disappeared, he was not among the candidates.
But the Sword Demon was different.
He was one of the figures who had been elevated as a candidate for Sword King.
However, unlike the Demon Sword Queen, who had the feat of destroying one of the Four Great Evil Gates alone, he had shown little in terms of strength, so ultimately he had not ascended.
Had he ascended, perhaps he would have been called something like Demon Sword King, similar to the Demon Sword Queen.
*Though there is a bit of a squatter’s feeling to it.*
Since most of the experts who used swords had died.
It was a position somewhat ambiguous to be called Sword King.
Still, that being the case.
*Anyway, he had ascended to candidate.*
The name of Sword King wasn’t just anyone’s household dog name; even among demonic humans, the fact that he had placed his name among the candidates was no different.
This meant the Sword Demon’s worth was considerable to some degree.
And as if proving that.
Klang-! Klang-!
The young Sword Demon did not retreat a single step against the fully-bloomed Yeongpung.
He twisted or disrupted Yeongpung’s sword path.
Shhhriek-!
If even a sliver of an opening was shown, he would tear into it.
*He is overcoming the physical difference with flow.*
In terms of strength or physique, Seongyul was inferior to Yeongpung.
Seongyul was minimizing that difference.
By using the flat of his blade to deflect Yeongpung’s attacks.
Even Yeongpung’s expression, experiencing this directly, began to change.
*What?*
When he thrust his sword, Seongyul was already moving to shake his sword path.
A sword tip twisted even slightly lost its power. It deviated from the desired path.
When he tried to address this with footwork.
Tap-!
The moment Yeongpung moved, Seongyul also adjusted his toes accordingly.
The distance neither narrowed nor widened.
Yeongpung had to feel a sense of heterogeneity in this situation.
Seongyul’s realm was higher than expected.
Similar to the level of Yeongpung, who had obtained a fortuitous encounter.
Yeongpung was considerably surprised by this as well.
But what was even more surprising.
*…I can’t feel the Kunlun sword.*
The fact that he could not feel the Kunlun Sect’s sword path from Seongyul’s sword.
There should have been a unique feeling characteristic to that place.
But Seongyul’s sword had none of that.
Shhh-! Klang-!
Blades clashed and sounds and qi burst forth.
Because the power they possessed differed, Seongyul’s body shook more greatly.
Yeongpung did not miss that opportunity and closed in.
He lowered his stance.
He switched his grip on the sword. He couldn’t cut with the blade, so he had to strike with the flat.
Just as he was about to swing his sword toward Yeongpung.
“…!”
In an instant, Seongyul’s eyes changed. He increased his speed and moved his sword.
It should have been a body he couldn’t control with the recoil.
But Seongyul caught it and forcibly moved his arm.
For such an attack, the speed was absurdly fast.
Shhhhhhriek-!
*Damn!*
At such a bizarre movement, Yeongpung also turned his sword path.
To block Seongyul’s attack.
However.
Seongyul’s sword was strangely fast.
To the point it was difficult to dodge.
Had he been hiding his strength? Yeongpung had such a thought.
Then.
*[Stop.]*
“…!”
Guyangcheon’s voice reached Seongyul’s ears.
And in an instant, Seongyul’s sword path slowed.
Soon, Yeongpung swung his sword there.
Screeeech-! The blades narrowly grazed each other.
Pow-! They deflected each other’s attacks and opened the distance.
“Hoo… hoo…”
Yeongpung, seemingly surprised by the sudden situation, regulated his breathing and looked at Seongyul.
Seongyul was standing as before, touching his own cheek.
Drip.
Blood was flowing from his cheek.
It seemed he had been cut by Yeongpung’s sword qi.
“…”
Seongyul himself didn’t seem very concerned about the wound, widening his eyes as if surprised by something.
Seeing such a Seongyul, Yeongpung asked.
“…Taoist Seong.”
At the call, Seongyul looked at Yeongpung.
“Why did you reduce your speed at the end?”
An attack that might have hit Yeongpung had he not reduced his speed. Yeongpung asked Seongyul the reason.
To this, Seongyul.
“…Because… I thought I might… kill you.”
He replied in a voice that suggested he didn’t quite understand himself.
Did he not understand that he had tried to kill?
Or.
Did he not understand that he had stopped himself from killing?
Yeongpung did not know, but.
“…Hoo.”
Swish-!
He had no choice but to let out a word as he sheathed the sword he held.
“…I’ve lost.”
Though his expression admitting defeat didn’t look very pleased, he looked a bit refreshed.
“…There are still many people in the world I do not know, and it seems I still have a long way to go. This was to show me this, wasn’t it, Young Hero Gu?”
Yeongpung thought that Guyangcheon must have had an intention as expected.
“…Yes…? Ah, yes… That’s right… That’s right.”
Guyangcheon, who had heard this from a distance, didn’t really understand what he was talking about.
*What’s he saying?*
He seemed to be thinking something strange, but Guyangcheon decided not to bother denying it.
Because it didn’t seem like a bad thought.
*He won against that.*
Guyangcheon also found this matter somewhat amazing this time.
He hadn’t necessarily expected Seongyul to lose while being pushed back.
But he hadn’t thought Yeongpung would lose either.
*I was just trying to test a few things.*
He had been trying to find out a few things using Yeongpung.
He hadn’t expected it to unfold like this.
*Yeongpung isn’t weaker than Seongyul.*
It was true that Seongyul was stronger than expected.
But Yeongpung was not weaker than him.
It was just that he couldn’t control his energy and couldn’t properly show his strength.
If he fully settled it and fought Seongyul again.
*Yeongpung would win.*
Objectively speaking, that seemed to be the case.
*That’s not very important.*
Guyangcheon was observing Seongyul’s situation rather than the current victory or defeat.
Seongyul, who had widened his yellow eyes in surprise.
He too seemed to have felt something and was looking at Guyangcheon.
Seeing that, Guyangcheon smiled.
*So it works.*
When Seongyul had tried to use the power of the Heavenly Slaughter Star during the duel.
Guyangcheon had tried something on Seongyul.
As a result, the Heavenly Slaughter Star that had tried to dominate Seongyul’s body was suppressed and blocked.
Judging by that, Guyangcheon determined it wasn’t a bad harvest.
Of course, there was still more to test.
But anyway.
*I can probably make use of him.*
Guyangcheon felt like he might know a way to suppress the Sword Demon’s Heavenly Slaughter Star.
*
Thus, after the duel ended and it was nearly lunchtime.
Just as we were about to grill and eat the fish Seongyul had caught in the valley.
I had to make a dumbfounded expression upon hearing the words Yeongpung spat out.
“…What did you just say?”
As per the promise of the duel, I had been trying to hear why the two of them were heading to Wudang.
But the words Yeongpung uttered were truly an absurd story.
Looking at me, frozen stiff while holding the fish like a fool.
Yeongpung said.
“…I….”
The words he spat out to me quite cautiously, as if afraid anyone might hear.
“…I think I have become the heir to the Huashan Sword Immortal.”
“…?”
To me, it was completely incomprehensible.