LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 149
“…I feel like I’ve seen you somewhere. Are you the child of White Flower Sword?”
“…Do you know my father?”
“I’ve crossed swords with him a few times.”
The man known by the nickname ‘Yunnan’s First Swordsman’ looked at Mok-kyeong with burning eyes.
Back when he traveled through Yunnan as a martial wanderer, he and White Flower Sword had indeed faced each other several times in combat.
“…Since I couldn’t settle things with your father, do I now have to settle it with you?”
With a troubled expression, he drew his well-maintained iron sword. Though it wasn’t a true masterpiece, it was certainly a high-quality blade. Mok-kyeong pulled her sword in response, the blade she had been with for many years.
“Carrying the title ‘Yunnan’s First Swordsman’ and serving a villain—don’t you feel ashamed?”
“What meaning does a title have? It’s just something given without reason.”
The unease on his face was clear.
Mok-kyeong sensed complications in his life from his expression, but regardless of that, once the sword was drawn, there was no way to back down.
For a swordsman, exchanging blows was a form of greeting, and it was never ideal to skip such formalities, then or now.
“A swordsman communicates through the sword. Let us have a discussion, shall we?”
“…I will go first.”
“Come on, then.”
With no hesitation, Mok-kyeong unleashed her footwork. Given the formidable opponent before her, she had no choice but to unleash all her power from the outset.
‘I’ll overwhelm him in one go. If Hye-ryeong is in danger…’
She had no concern for William’s potential peril, intending to assist Hye-ryeong once the fight concluded, assuming she emerged victorious.
“Your swordplay is familiar. How many swords can you summon?”
“…A hundred words are not worth a single sight. Why don’t you see for yourself?”
“That’s right.”
Yunnan’s First Swordsman, Jeong Gun-ak, followed Mok-kyeong’s movements with a focused gaze.
‘White Flower Sword was a formidable figure who freely produced a hundred blades to pressure his enemies. It’s intriguing to see what his child is capable of.’
Though by age alone, he was still far from surpassing his father’s skill, Gun-ak’s seasoned instincts told him that this fight wouldn’t be so simple.
He adjusted his grip on the sword, prepared to defend, knowing he wouldn’t be able to resist much longer.
Though not explicitly stated, he had every intention to offer the first move—a virtue of seniority in the martial realm for a junior warrior.
“It won’t be easy.”
“Swinging the sword with one’s life on the line, how could it ever be easy?”
Dozens of swords burst forth, nearly covering Mok-kyeong. The sight was like a flower blooming with blades, reminding Jeong Gun-ak of memories long past as he swung his sword.
The sword moved with terrifying speed, attacking so fast Mok-kyeong almost missed the strike. A powerful blow hit the blade.
“…Impressive agile swordplay.”
‘Speed-wise, it surpasses even Eun-gong.’
Even quicker than William’s sword, who had recently been her teacher.
Though William’s sword had no reason to be fast, it was still astonishing to find this blade faster than an ultimate master’s.
The pinnacle and the ultimate may differ by the thinnest of margins.
This was proof that Gun-ak had reached the peak of his swordsmanship.
‘If I miss even once, my head will surely be taken.’
Tension flickered in Mok-kyeong’s eyes as Gun-ak looked at her with a reminiscent gaze.
‘So much like her father, despite being his daughter.’
Scenes from the past came alive in his mind, when he was but a naive youth.
“Your father would have been pleased to see you. Achieving this level at your age…”
“…Do not mention my father to me.”
To hear about one’s father from the subordinate of an enemy is enough to churn the stomach. With a angered expression, Gun-ak continued:
“The weak have no right to anger. If you truly mean to be angry, try cutting me down.”
“…You’ll regret those words.”
Mok-kyeong’s blade shot out even more fiercely, releasing sixty blades. A storm of swords engulfed Gun-ak.
He calmly intercepted the real thrusts hidden among the dozens of illusions.
A bright clash of swords rang out in the dark mountain path.
Mok-kyeong continued her relentless assault despite seeing her attacks being deflected.
‘There’s no easy way to reclaim dominance once you lose it to an agile swordsman.’
What made fast swordplay called “Cuijian” so feared?
Pursuing the utmost speed.
That’s why it’s called Cuijian—a refined skill capable of slashing before the opponent even notices any movement.
Once someone trained in Cuijian takes control, they overwhelm their opponent by striking rapidly, denying them any chance to retaliate.
Thus Mok-kyeong’s blade couldn’t afford to stop, sustaining her offensive for the same reason.
‘If I could deploy a protective force field like Eun-gong to repel his ki…’
She wasn’t William, and William wasn’t her.
Hence she could only swing her blade with determination.
“Very impressive.”
He watched as the flower of steel bloomed before his eyes.
The flower concealed its lethal intent in every petal, aimed at his vital spots.
Gun-ak smiled and countered with dozens of slashes, neutralizing Mok-kyeong’s oncoming blade.
His skill was Cuijian and nothing more.
But when refined to its extreme, speed alone could rival the art of illusions.
Though each stroke was relatively weak, his response was sheer volume. In moments, he created a wind barrier with the sheer number of slashes.
‘Dozens of overlapping sword strikes!’
Naturally, Mok-kyeong was pushed back by the overwhelming pressure, her countless swords vanishing like a mirage.
“Finally, it’s my turn.”
Hardly were his words finished when his hand left dozens of trails, too fast for the eye to follow. Instinctively, she leaned to the side.
“…Hmph!”
“Sharp eyes there. Dodging that was quite the feat.”
‘I need to regain control!’
“But I wonder how long you can keep this up.”
Once more, his sword flickered with lethal intent.
Her sword blocked it thanks to her internal powers focusing her vision. The heavy impact was felt through her hands.
Even before it faded, another attack came from the other side. She barely read the trajectory and managed to parry it again.
This exchange repeated several times.
Her opponent’s Cuijian, though lacking power, had superior speed, gradually wearing her down.
Mok-kyeong retreated, breathing heavily.
‘If I miss once, it will be fatal. What should I do…’
She couldn’t die here.
William’s advice came to mind.
“To survive, you must keep calm in any situation.”
Taking a breath, she recalled the respected Eun-gong, finding focus.
‘The weakness in fast swordplay is the excessive focus on speed, sacrificing power.’
She had to take back control.
If she stayed on the defensive, she’d be gradually worn down.
‘This person isn’t stronger than the Sect Leader of Blood Manor.’
With her back against a tree, there was no room for error.
So…
‘She needed to make a stand.’
To cut or be cut.
Her decision came in an instant.
Chasing the incoming blade with her eyes, she pressed forward.
‘You must be willing to lose an arm to win battles risking your life.’ Feeling the sword slice narrowly past her chest, Mok-kyeong swung her blade toward Gun-ak.
‘This is the only chance!’
She unleashed her ultimate technique.
“This is…”
The smile on Gun-ak’s face turned into astonishment.
A hundred swords decorated the air.
Just as his worthy opponent did, a flood of swords filled his vision. A smile crept onto his lips.
“At least he did one thing right.”
But where in this world would a swordsman surrender?
Gun-ak took a step back and unleashed a flurry of Cuijian, his sword aimed to cut even the light.
A hundred swords and one sword.
They clashed in mid-air, creating a powerful shockwave.
Both Mok-kyeong and Gun-ak took a few steps back to stabilize their shaken insides.
‘Dammit…’
Mok-kyeong gritted her teeth as blood soaked through her clothes. The wound was deeper than expected. Treatment was necessary if she were to fall soon.
But Gun-ak wasn’t unscathed either.
‘His skill, though young, is formidable. Had I faced him later, I would have fallen instantly.’
However, he was not down yet.
Other than some internal damage, his condition was stable, whereas Mok-kyeong was dangerously close to collapse.
“…Still, it’s my defeat.”
Gun-ak looked down at his broken sword, a companion of many years, now irreparably halved.
He approached the seated Mok-kyeong, leaning against a tree, and offered healing medicine.
“…What is…?”
“Consider it the prize of victory.”
“…No, I have lost.”
“No, I have lost.”
He held out his broken sword to Mok-kyeong.
“When a swordsman loses his sword, can it not be called defeat?”
“…I cut you.”
“…Stubborn girl, just like your father. Be happy with the victory.”
He turned away and looked at William’s battle with three warriors.
Or, rather, three warriors getting beaten one-sidedly.
‘If I were to face that man, I would have been killed instantly.’
He saw it clearly, long desiring to break through his limits.
The overwhelming disparity between those three warriors and the man in the lion mask.
‘Even the Sect Leader of Blood Manor would fall to that man. I’d like to see it myself, but…I doubt I can.’
Slowly, he walked into the dark night with a faint smile.
‘Even the Sect Leader will no longer be able to hide like a rat.’
Bound by a contract akin to slavery, perhaps that contract would be broken.
“The Sect Leader of Blood Manor is in Sinpyeong to the north of the Yuan River.”
Leaving those words, he disappeared into the darkness.