Book 10 Chapter 12
Moyonghwi versus Sword Saint (劍聖)
“I’m sorry, but you cannot enter!”
It was only natural. Eun Seollan had no intention of complaining about it.
Because she was from the Black Path, not the White Path…
There was no way she could access the secret arts of another sect. So, all she could do was wait outside the Illusionary Demon Cave, praying for everyone’s safety. Her heart felt heavy, filled with anxiety and worry, but all she could do was wait quietly.
“Are they all safe…”
Perhaps due to her worry, she couldn’t properly taste the tea. She couldn’t even feel if the tea leaves had properly steeped in the appropriately heated water.
Her mind was completely filled with worry for her acquaintances. And Moyonghwi’s hesitant gaze from yesterday also bothered her. Her intuition as a woman told her that he clearly had something to say to her yesterday. But as he hesitated, the opportunity passed, and he finally turned away without saying anything.
‘Should I have stopped him then…’
But she couldn’t.
“Hwi! I hope you are safe…”
Lately, Moyonghwi’s reactions seemed different than before. So, even the usually cheerful her found it a bit awkward to interact with him. But her worry was the same.
Bilyeon, Nayerin, Moyonghwi… and Hyoryong! She thought of each person one by one.
“I hope you are all safe.”
It might seem strange for someone from the Black Path to worry about the well-being of those from the White Path. But to her, such a fact was irrelevant. There were things that took precedence over one’s affiliation and origin as a human. Who could dare claim it was right to constantly hate and detest someone simply because their affiliation, origin, and ideology were different!
As a human, she worried about them. But it was a pity that all she could do was pray for their good fortune in her heart.
“Everyone, hang in there.”
She muttered quietly and habitually took a sip of tea.
The tea tasted bitter.
“Youngster!”
At the benevolent voice from behind him, Moyonghwi startled and stopped walking. The voice held an intangible power that captivated people. But within it, there was also affection for Moyonghwi.
‘No way!’
Moyonghwi turned around with a disbelieving expression. His eyes widened. Snow-white hair and a beard that reached his chest! Yet, his skin was full of youth and vitality, glowing with luster, and his eyes, as deep as an abyss, were so clear that no trace of evil energy could be found. He was clad entirely in white clothes, as if woven from threads spun from pure snow.
“Grandfather!”
Moyonghwi exclaimed. The ageless elder was Sword Saint Moyong Jeongcheon. The reason Moyonghwi had always insisted on wearing only white clothes had a significant influence from the Sword Saint.
“What are you doing here…”
Moyonghwi couldn’t hide his confusion. Why was his grandfather, who should be at the clan, here now?
To Moyonghwi’s question, the Sword Saint smiled benevolently.
“Ho ho ho. Your skills seem to have improved greatly.”
“You are too kind.”
Moyonghwi demurred. But he felt very pleased. In the current martial world, how many people could receive such praise from the Sword Saint!
“Ho ho ho. You humble one. Then, can you surpass me now?”
The Sword Saint asked with a tender smile. But the content of his question was immense. Moyonghwi flinched at the Sword Saint’s sudden question.
“I will definitely surpass you someday.”
Moyonghwi replied.
His grandfather was his god and idol. But he was also the biggest obstacle he had to overcome someday. Every man instinctively yearns to surpass his father. In Moyonghwi’s case, it was his grandfather, not his father.
The name of Sword Saint Moyong Jeongcheon was a brilliant glory that made the Moyong family the foremost of the Eight Great Families externally, but within its great shadow, it was also a heavy burden and a great wall for the bloodline of the Moyong family. A shadow that could not be dared to be approached… a shadow that seemed indelible! An insurmountable wall! Within that shadow was warmth, but some also felt stifled.
However, among them, with the caveat of “someday,” it was no exaggeration to say that Moyonghwi was the only one determined to surpass the Sword Saint’s high reputation.
“Ho ho ho, someday… You are the only one within the vast clan who has the audacity to try and surpass me. Even your father couldn’t confidently claim to surpass this old man, even when he was young and full of vigor like you.”
“Then, is my intention wrong?”
Moyonghwi asked.
“Ho ho ho ho! How could it be wrong? One who has the resolve to surpass the strong is a true martial artist, a true warrior. You have simply said what you ought to say. There can be no complacency for those in the martial world. Just as there is no end to the path of the sword.”
Moyonghwi let out a sigh of relief inwardly. He had no idea why the Sword Saint was here. Because the demonic energy of the Illusionary Demon Cave had completely ensnared him.
“Then, shall I see your skills?”
The Sword Saint took out a twig from somewhere. For him, it was more than enough to contend with Moyonghwi, who was renowned in the martial world. It seemed that as he grew older, he suddenly wanted to see his grandson’s playful antics.
‘Th-this is… something like this has happened before…’
Suddenly, he was overcome by a strange emotion. He had clearly experienced this before.
‘Yes. I remember! It’s the same situation as the last time I sparred with grandfather before leaving for the Heavenly Martial Academy.’
It was clearly the same situation that day. And…
And that day, he had been completely defeated without any room for excuse. It was a perfect defeat, literally. It was a huge shock to him, who was already renowned for his high martial arts prowess. No matter that his opponent was the respected grandfather, Sword Saint Moyong Jeongcheon, he had never expected to be so thoroughly defeated without even being able to counterattack once. The wall of the Three Heavenly Martials was indeed high.
‘But why is what happened that day repeating before my eyes now?’
Moreover, the feeling he was experiencing now was the same degree of terrible pressure he had felt before the Sword Saint that day. It was a sense of overwhelming pressure, as if his body was being crushed by a thousand pounds of heavy stone!
This Illusionary Demon Cave was a kind of mirror. It reflected the dark desires and wounds deep within people’s consciousness and showed them back to themselves as illusions. Therefore, there was almost no sense of discord with reality.
“Ho ho ho.”
Just the fact that the Sword Saint held a twig made Moyonghwi feel immense pressure. It was like standing before a thousand-zhang cliff. It was also like a towering Mount Tai, where even a flying bird would have to rest its wings midway. How much respect did he have for such a grandfather! What Moyonghwi possessed now was awe.
‘What was the result that day?’
It wasn’t a particularly fortunate outcome. Moyonghwi ultimately couldn’t overcome the Sword Saint’s twig. His sharp treasured sword was wielded against a twig, a natural plant, which burned very well and was certainly not weaker than steel, so much so that it was embarrassing to call it a peerless sword. Even Moyonghwi’s continuous variations and successive attacks were blocked by the Sword Saint with a mere wave of his hand.
Of course, the Sword Saint had reached the pinnacle of the Moyong family’s inherited martial arts and created a new school, the Silver River School, which surpassed it. Only those who had reached the pinnacle in one aspect could create a new school. Only those who had attained the Way were qualified to walk a new path.
That day, Moyonghwi ultimately could not break the Sword Saint’s twig sword. And as a result of his futile efforts, his body was drenched in sweat. Moyonghwi had to pant, feeling dejected.
‘I’m still far from it…’
He blamed himself. The Mount Tai he intended to climb felt even higher.
However, he wasn’t reprimanded for his shallow learning. He had only slightly scratched the end of the twig the Sword Saint was holding. That too was the result of unleashing the secret technique of the Silver River Star Sword, Star Shattering Blade (流星碎天刃), with all his might. That was the maximum achievement and everything Moyonghwi had gained that day. There was no scolding from his grandfather.
“Ho ho ho! To touch my sword… your studies have improved considerably.”
Instead, the Sword Saint praised his skills. It seemed he was very satisfied with that alone.
‘This time! This time for sure!’
The recollection of the past was over. Now was the real beginning. With an indomitable will to repay the debt from that day and to break the twig sword, Moyonghwi adjusted his grip on his sword.
“Haaap! Silver River Stars Fill the Sky (銀河流星滿天)!”
Sword qi like shooting stars, forming a cluster of stars, shot towards the Sword Saint.
He leaped towards the wall he had to overcome. The first attempt failed. Then, what about the second attempt…?
The sword light exploded brilliantly.
“Huff huff huff.”
‘As expected, it was still too much…’
Moyonghwi gasped for breath.
Despite pouring in all his strength, not much had improved. Now, even the sword in his hand felt heavy. Even after unleashing all his secret techniques, the Sword Saint remained unfazed. It felt as if an invisible shield surrounded his entire body. Moyonghwi decided to use the best secret technique he had learned from the Sword Saint.
“Can you surpass me with the techniques you learned from me?”
Moyonghwi flinched at the Sword Saint’s words. But he had no other choice.
“Then, I will proceed.”
“Come on!”
Silver River School (銀河流)
Heaven-Opening Sword (開闢劍)
Limit (極限)
Ultimate Secret (奧義)
Silver River Annihilation (銀河滅滅)
In that instant, a light that brightly illuminated the dark Illusionary Demon Cave shot out from the tip of Moyonghwi’s sword. The sword qi dispelled the darkness, shining brightly in all directions.
Even if it was his grandfather, he absolutely did not want to lose. He poured all his might into radiating dazzling sword qi in all directions and charged towards the Sword Saint. He was now exerting all his effort to surpass his grandfather’s afterimage.
Dozens of shooting stars that flew towards the Sword Saint were blocked by the twig he wielded and fell to the ground. Although it was merely a twig, in the Sword Saint’s hand, it displayed a power that no divine weapon could rival.
“Hah!”
Just as his variations were about to be rendered futile, Moyonghwi leaped once more and plunged towards the Sword Saint. This was not a technique he had learned from the Sword Saint.
*Swish!*
With the last strike Moyonghwi extended, the tip of the Sword Saint’s twig was slightly cut off. Finally, his sword had pierced the Sword Saint’s wall, albeit minutely. But for Moyonghwi, this was a huge step. He felt like shouting with joy.
“Grandfather! …Huh?”
When Moyonghwi joyfully looked for the Sword Saint, his shadow had already vanished without a trace.
Moyonghwi was dumbfounded.
“Why are you so dumbfounded?”
At the very familiar voice, Moyonghwi’s head snapped around.
“Th-this can’t be……”
Moyonghwi was utterly confused. There was no reason for the owner of that voice to be here. And she shouldn’t be. The one who appeared immediately after the Sword Saint vanished was Eun Seollan. In this darkness, her beauty shone even brighter. As if she were a being from another realm!
‘Beautiful.’
Moyonghwi genuinely thought so for a moment. Perhaps no one would disagree with his opinion.
Moyonghwi’s chest suddenly felt tight, he became breathless, and his heart pounded furiously, making it difficult to speak properly.
“Uh… Miss Eun… why… no, how are you here?”
As an investigator from the Black Path, there was no way she could enter here. Instead of answering, she smiled broadly. This was truly unfair to him.
*Thump thump thump! Thump-thump! Thump-thump!*
Moyonghwi’s heart began to beat erratically and wildly. The speed of his blood circulation increased, and the heat in his face rose.
Despite learning for over ten years how to control his own body, starting from its physiological functions to every sensory aspect, all those lessons were useless at this moment.
As she took each step closer, a sweet and enchanting fragrance tickled his nose. A fragrance so sweet it felt like it was melting his entire mind and brain… the scent of a woman who was too mature!
Her face, now very close, was almost touching his.
*Gulp!*
Without realizing it, he swallowed. His body became more tense and anxious than when he met a life-or-death adversary, or when he was suppressed by the Sword Saint’s aura just moments ago.
“Uh… Miss Eun……”
At Moyonghwi’s call, she smiled broadly, blooming like a flower. Then she said,
“I hate you!”
“What?”
For a moment, Moyonghwi didn’t understand what he had heard. Kindly, she repeated what she had said without hesitation.
“I said I hate you. You’re tiresome, boring, and looking at you makes me angry. I really, really, really, really hate you, you blockhead. You’re repulsive!”
Moyonghwi trembled as if struck by lightning. Her words were like a thunderclap to him. His chest ached as if a dagger had pierced it.
She said with a sneer,
“Besides, you’re from the Orthodox faction. And I’m a daughter of the insidious Demonic faction. How can we have a good relationship?”
“Does it matter whether we’re from the Orthodox or Demonic faction? Doesn’t that not matter?”
*Flintch!* Moyonghwi was genuinely surprised by his own words. He himself, more than anyone else, was the one most bound by and influenced by his background.
“Oh? Aren’t you, Young Master Moyong, the one most deeply entangled in this concept of Orthodox and Demonic?”
Her words were like sharp daggers, piercing Moyonghwi’s chest. Despite her cold sarcasm, Moyonghwi had no rebuttal. How could he be confident before others when he wasn’t honest with himself? Moyonghwi was not that thick-skinned.
“You’ll be able to have such a thing as romance by scrutinizing dozens of conditions like this, that, and the other, Young Master Moyong. You naive one, ho ho ho ho.”
She laughed. It felt like she was mocking him.
‘Is she reprimanding me for being unable to act according to my heart because I’m bound by circumstances?’
Moyonghwi’s heart ached.
“If you cannot give up everything about yourself, if you don’t have the courage to do so, it cannot be called love. You shouldn’t expect a woman to unilaterally accommodate you. You shouldn’t always hope for favorable circumstances. With over trillions of lives in this world, how can all their romances be smooth sailing? Love is a process of mutual adjustment. If you don’t have the courage to change yourself, you are no different from someone who doesn’t deserve to love. Unilateral emotional demands? Do you think love is a one-way street? If so, you are mistaken. That is merely obsession, not love. It is merely a product of false obsession and ugly desire disguised as love. Do not deceive yourself and those around you with such things. First, prepare yourself to change. If you don’t have the courage, then simply give up cleanly. That is the way to end it cleanly without getting dirty.”
He listened to her words silently. From beginning to end, her words were utterly scathing. Love is not a one-way street! Those words remained in his heart for a long time.
When she finished speaking, Moyonghwi realized that he had a profound interest in her. He realized that he was in love with her. It was a first love with the highest probability of failure.
“……”
He could offer no reply or excuse. He suddenly felt infinitely ashamed. He felt like a hypocrite. He couldn’t look her in the face.
*Drip.*
Tears flowed down her cheeks.
*Ache!* His chest throbbed as if being torn out.
With a lonely expression and a faint smile, she turned and walked away, shedding tears like the dew of the stars he had seen that day.
“Miss Eun!”
Moyonghwi chased after her, trying to catch her. But the distance between them did not close. Finally, her figure disappeared from his sight, like crushed sand in the summer night. It was like a dream on a midsummer night.
When he came to his senses, he realized he was standing somewhere inside a cave. Suddenly, the world looked different.
‘Am I in love right now?’
It was an unexpected event, even to himself.
‘What should I do about this? How?’
His head ached as if it would split open. Nevertheless, there was no clear solution. His emotions wandered within his heart, unable to find an outlet.
Her theory that ideology, origin, or affiliation had no bearing on love might be close to an ideal. Indeed, the walls of reality were too high, and reality was truly unfeeling and cold.