Book 16 Chapter 6

The Sword Empress, Drawing Her Sword

- The Sword of the Sword Empress Revealed -

A shroud of silent stillness enveloped the hall. No one dared to break this silence with idle chatter. Their nerves were focused on a single spot where a swirling cloud of dust rose like a fog.

Naye-rin, perhaps due to the psychological shock, was speechless, her mind a blank.

"Unnie Dok-go, do you really think that person is dead?"

Lee Jin-seol, standing anxiously beside Naye-rin, asked Dok-go-ryeong with a tearful face. Dok-go-ryeong, her left eye gleaming coldly, gazed at the pile of rocks where a man had been thrown.

"If he were the kind of man who would die from that, he would have been killed a hundred times over by Naye-rin's fanatics long ago. Or even before that, he would have died by my hand! I don't believe that man, with his tenacious life force like a cockroach, would die from that. So, you should believe it too!"

The last words were directed at her junior sister. Unbeknownst to them, Dok-go-ryeong's right hand had been placed on Naye-rin's left shoulder. Among the four sisters, there was no need for lengthy explanations for their hearts to connect. She understood perfectly the concern of her elder sister.

"Oh, Unnie! Look over there!"

At that moment, Lee Jin-seol, noticing a change in the hall, exclaimed, pointing with her finger.

"See! What did I tell you? I said his life force was as tenacious as a cockroach's. But… he might be better off lying there. I fear what comes next even more!"

"Why?"

"Because at least then we could prevent him from drawing his sword. Can you imagine how terrifying it is for that man to draw his sword? I can't even begin to imagine. The moment his sword is drawn from its sheath… he will undoubtedly die."

Dok-go-ryeong spoke with a voice trembling violently.

"Cough, cough! Ouch… This is a bit too much…"

Pushing through the thick dust, a single, colossal cockroach ambled out.

Bilyu-yeon's body seemed to be sturdier than expected. His fate was not like an apple falling from the rooftop.

"How can this be! To be unharmed after taking my blow…"

Was it a bluff? Yet, as the Sword Empress, she couldn't believe that Bilyu-yeon was still standing on his own two feet, let alone walking so disrespectfully. It seemed the dismemberment wasn't complete.

Bilyu-yeon, emerging from the dust cloud, casually brushed off the yellow dust that had settled on his black martial arts uniform, seemingly unconcerned and aware of the stares, as if the blow he had just received had left no trace of aftereffects.

"Wow… That was close…! Truly!"

Crrrack!

Every time Bilyu-yeon violently twisted his head from side to side and rotated his shoulders, a loud cracking sound echoed from his joints. The Sword Empress's eyebrows twitched slightly at this absurd action.

However, deliberately ignoring it, Bilyu-yeon meticulously brushed himself clean before standing up straight.

"Are you trying to kill me? I almost died!"

It was true. An incredibly ruthless attack! A blow devoid of even a shred of pity or mercy! It was clear that the Sword Empress's attack contained that intent. The will to cut him down. She couldn't have mistaken that feeling. To not sense that feeling was tantamount to being ready to die at any moment. It was undeniably a killing intent.

"Shouldn't you be prepared for that much? You must be serious in any martial arts contest, just like in real combat. Can you really afford to go easy on your opponent in a sparring match?"

The Sword Empress said.

"Is that really so? From my perspective, you don't seem like someone who can even control her own sword properly. Am I mistaken?"

"Well… you can find out if you endure my next strike."

It sounded like a declaration that she wouldn't need further strikes.

"Really? But with what? From my perspective, you don't seem to have any targets left to attack."

"What? What do you mean?"

"Just look."

The Sword Empress's eyes widened in shock.

'When? I didn't even notice.'

There were truly few people who could evade her gaze. In fact, it was almost impossible, as impossible as startling her. Yet, at this very moment, someone had achieved both.

When had he acted? The sword she held was cut into more than a dozen pieces, fluttering down like petals.

She thought she had completely overpowered him… The Sword Empress had to admit that she needed to revise her assessment. Her opponent was far more formidable than she had imagined.

"This is interesting! I admit it. You have earned the right to receive my sword!"

The Sword Empress said with a dangerous smile.

"Truly amazing. To think there was someone who could perform such a feat while evading the Sword Empress's gaze…"

Do-seong let out a gasp without realizing it. To be unharmed after enduring the Sword Empress's three strikes, and to even make her draw her sword… that fellow was certainly worthy of surprising him.

"I agree. However, that might be his misfortune."

Geomseong also seemed impressed.

"Who could have trained him?"

"Well, I can't be sure. Based on his movements so far, it's hard to determine his master!"

"But Jeongcheon, shouldn't we stop those two? It's getting dangerous."

"Hmm, if it were possible, that would be best. The question is, who will bell the cat? Are you going to do it?"

"What? You want me to interfere with her business? Don't joke, I politely decline! I want to live a long life."

"What a coincidence. I was just thinking the same thing."

"Hmm… It seems we're on the same page. Let's both prioritize our lives."

In the end, the two decided to simply watch. They were confident that it was for their own good. Her expression, in particular, was dangerous. If provoked, she would explode. And the impact of that explosion was not something they could withstand. Even the Cheonmu Samseong couldn't. It was a matter of a different nature than the level of martial arts. These two, through long experience and lessons learned, understood this well. So, even if they were called cowardly, they decided to remain spectators.

The behavior of the two, so unlike the Cheonmu Samseong, was enough to confuse Mo-yong Hwi, who was watching.

'How terrified are they? Have they both been blackmailed?'

Mo-yong Hwi found it utterly incomprehensible.

The Sword Empress gazed down at her waist, still holding the fragmented remains of her sword.

"How long has it been since I drew my sword?"

There were times she drew it for "possession," to prevent rust and maintain its sharpness. But that wasn't considered drawing her sword. She had merely taken it out. There were also times she drew it to teach her disciples, for training, or for demonstration. But even those couldn't be considered drawing her sword.

'When was the last time I truly drew it to cut someone down?'

Drawing her sword meant having the resolve to truly cut someone down. It felt like a distant past, so long ago that it was almost forgotten.

Yet, now, the most powerful woman was preparing to draw her sword. With the utmost respect, with all her might.

"Can you really block this strike as well?"

Swish!

The Sword Empress's left hand gently rested on the scabbard. It was preparation for drawing the sword with the most perfect state and highest speed. Just that alone changed the atmosphere entirely. She herself seemed to merge with the sword, exuding a chilling sharpness that pressed down on Bilyu-yeon, like a sword on the verge of being drawn.

"Indeed! I can't afford to be careless now."

He felt goosebumps prickle on his forearm hidden within his sleeve. This woman was undoubtedly the owner of the most terrifying sword energy among all the opponents he had faced since his debut in the martial world.

"You're planning to fight in earnest."

"Of course! Are you scared?"

"You jest! Very well! Good will with good will, ill will with ill will, and sincerity with sincerity! That is my creed!"