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Chapter 507: Just Let Me Hold It Once.

Nangong Bi-ah has a path.

The path she wishes to follow as a swordswoman, a distant goal she craves to reach. Staring unwaveringly at that far-off track, she continually walked her path.

It was very far.

An endless road where the destination was barely visible.

One might feel intimidated by the thin, rough road, yet Nangong Bi-ah did not stop.

Perhaps it was because she had already seen the results.

– Come slowly.

She remembered the voice from the sparring event that had taken place in Hanam.

– If you rush, you’ll stumble, and…

– Just take it easy, so you don’t fall.

Steadily, without straying from the path.

– Then, I’ll give you a present.

That voice from back then was etched in Nangong Bi-ah’s memory, as if it was a mark she couldn’t forget.

Whose words were they?

The only thing that seemed to identify the old man was his blue martial robe, which made it clear he was a member of the Nangong clan.

Her identity was unclear. How and why he had beckoned her this way was a mystery.

But Nangong Bi-ah walked.

Just like the old man said, slowly, even if it meant moving away from the path.

And yet, without hesitation.

Swoosh—!

The sword in Nangong Bi-ah’s hand sliced through the air.

There was no swirling energy. A clean, pure sword path devoid of any stakes.

She merely swung it.

The sword felt heavy, and the desired speed didn’t come, but that didn’t matter.

What mattered was not straying from the path she sought.

That was her only focus.

Stepping forward to maintain her balance, her foot found its place on the ground.

While her fingertips felt weightless, her lower body felt extraordinarily heavy to bear the weight.

Thud-!

Sweat dripped down her white skin.

It might have seemed like a trivial motion, but the pressure she felt in her body was significant.

And so, the second sword (二劍).

Swoosh—!

As she swung the sword, Nangong Bi-ah’s gaze was not on the sword’s tip.

In fact, her eyes were closed.

She needed to be aware of the changes her body underwent as she wielded the sword.

Without any stakes, she had to feel the differences coming from her muscles.

As her foot landed, she twisted her waist.

Her white hair fluttered. She used the rebound generated by the spin to bring her sword down.

Thus, the third sword (三劍).

Swish—! A clear sound cut through the air.

At the same time.

Wooong—!

The sword sang.

It was the sound of sword resonance.

As she heard it, Nangong Bi-ah’s ears perked up.

Now, it begins.

A reaction came to the path Nangong Bi-ah was now seeing with her eyes closed. It appeared before her.

In that dry path, it felt like flowers blooming. A sensation akin to leaves sprouting on a gnarled old tree.

The power she had been holding onto found its ease now as she moved.

Swinging the sword felt more natural.

It was as if…

She was getting closer to the sword.

Wooong—! Wooong—!

Even without any stakes, the sword sang. Listening to it, Nangong Bi-ah continued to swing her sword.

Fourth sword, and then the fifth sword.

The sword path she had long learned from the Nangong clan was unfolding.

From a distance, it looked like she was spreading the same technique, but Nangong Bi-ah was adding subtle differences.

Boom—! Wooong—!

Before she knew it, the sound of slicing through the air was overshadowed by the sound the sword emitted.

The resonance amplified.

The sword path of the Nangong clan was based on stakes.

This meant that without any stakes, the sword path could not be performed.

Why was that?

Nangong Bi-ah was always curious.

Why was it that the Nangong’s sword could not be perfected without stakes?

Could it truly be called a completion?

The energy representing the Nangong clan is Thunder Qi (雷氣). The Imperial Sword Form was displayed as she wielded it alongside that mixed vigor.

That was the perception she associated with the Nangong clan.

Yet, Nangong Bi-ah questioned this as well.

‘Why?’

The family that aspired to be the number one sword clan—how could they not imagine a perfect sword?

A sword that could not be utilized without stakes was ultimately an incomplete sword.

That could not be deemed a completion.

Were they truly unaware of this in the Nangong clan?

She had always been curious about it, but never voiced any doubts.

The first reason was that the environment did not allow for such questions, and the second was that Nangong Bi-ah herself deemed it meaningless.

Strength flowed into her toes.

Muscles tensed to express the sword, and strength gripped her lower body to withstand the motions.

After countless actions, the sword path erupted forth.

She needed to eliminate any sense of discomfort.

A stench, sharp and unappealing, was emanating from the sword path.

In her determination to eradicate it, Nangong Bi-ah poured her utmost concentration into every movement.

After swinging the sword twenty times—exactly twenty times.

“Haah… haah….”

Nangong Bi-ah finally stopped.

She had no choice; she was drenched in sweat and panting heavily.

Thud.

The sword in her hand fell to the ground.

At the same time, Nangong Bi-ah knelt down, supporting herself on the floor.

Drip, drip. Sweat droplets trickled down her lovely chin.

Though she tried to calm herself, it was no easy feat.

Not using stakes was one thing, but concentrating all her mental efforts on the sword path made it even harder.

Amidst all this, while looking at her sweat soaking the ground, Nangong Bi-ah found herself pondering something else.

‘… Just one more step.’

Should she take just one more step?

Maintaining the current sensation, should she push a little further?

That desire surged within her.

If she willed it, she could go further.

Just a bit more, just a little closer to that distant destination.

If she could inch forward, even a fraction,

‘Then… I can protect that person.’

She could develop the strength to shield him.

Thinking of this, Nangong Bi-ah rose to her feet and grabbed the sword that had fallen to the floor.

“…”

Swoosh— thud—!

The sword quietly returned to its sheath without any further actions.

Nangong Bi-ah ultimately did not take another step forward.

‘Slowly….’

The step she would take from this point was not whole.

Though she might be able to take it, that step would be uncertain, and she would likely have more to lose than gain.

She must not lose her center in her desire to reach the end.

Keeping this in mind, Nangong Bi-ah bit her lip.

It’s still so far away. How distant that destination seemed.

Could she really reach it if she walked at this pace?

A cowardly thought flickered, but she had to suppress it.

She was always confident in her ability to endure.

Wasn’t she already putting up with various things now?

Most of it stemmed from Gu Yangcheong’s faction, yet she had to endure.

Nangong Bi-ah knew that if she acted up towards Gu Yangcheong in the way she desired, she would surely earn his dislike.

She must endure.

The sword too had to endure this.

She straightened herself and slowly opened her eyes.

She needed to wash up and change out of her martial robe.

‘… Where should I go…?’

Today, she had a destination. From the information she had received from her father, the Sword King, she learned that her great-grandfather, Heavenly Lord, was in Sichuan.

Thus, Nangong Bi-ah had sent a letter to Heavenly Lord.

She intended to trust him and seek him out.

The problem was.

‘… Where… to?’

Where was she supposed to go to meet Heavenly Lord?

Should she start by scouring the mountains slowly?

If she didn’t know, she could simply search with her feet.

That was always Nangong Bi-ah’s method of finding her way.

One day, she would meet him.

As she thought so, she aimed to head towards the back mountain first.

“Well, well.”

A voice called from behind her.

As soon as she heard it, Nangong Bi-ah drew and swung her sword.

Swish—!

Clang—!

“…!”

She thrust the sword in the direction from which the sound had come.

But before she could gain any momentum, her sword path was blocked.

The owner of the voice had intercepted her sword with his grip.

In that moment, Nangong Bi-ah saw.

The blue and white hair, swirling with shock.

It was the same color as her own hair.

“Was the monster over there so big that I couldn’t notice? Hmm….”

The man wore an expression that seemed unfazed, even in the face of sudden attack.

Rather, he examined her sword as if gauging her strength.

Then, he smiled as he looked at Nangong Bi-ah.

“Our niece is quite the impressive monster, huh?”

Only then did Nangong Bi-ah realize the man’s identity.

It was someone she had seen before.

The master of the Sleeping Dragon she had met while accompanying Gu Yangcheong.

Furthermore, he was a figure of the Nangong bloodline, just like her.

“… Gwaeseon….”

The Master of Wudang Nangong Hyeong.

He was likely her father’s brother.

And he said to her.

“Our dear niece, do you have any thoughts of becoming the clan leader?”

“…?”

It was such an out-of-the-blue statement.

– Mom, don’t you need any more?

Suddenly, Baek Cheon-gyeom blurted out this absurd statement.

As I frowned at those bizarre words, she seemed to realize what she had just said and hastily covered her mouth before running away.

What on earth was that about?

That lady has always been strange, but today seemed particularly odd.

Or maybe it was just because I hadn’t seen her in a while that she seemed more bizarre than usual.

There was no way I could understand why she would say something like that.

‘Isn’t a mother needed?’

What on earth is she talking about? That was some insane nonsense.

‘I have more than enough already. Why would I need any more?’

Was she suggesting that she would become one herself if there was a need for others?

‘Baek Cheon-gyeom being a mother?’

The mere thought made my body shiver.

The moment I entertained such a terrifying imagination,

“… Hush, stay still. It’s hard to focus.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

Shin Yi, who was checking my pulse in front of me, muttered a remark.

At those words, I tried to calm myself down.

Right after Baek Cheon-gyeom left, I turned to Shin Yi, leaving Tang Deok behind.

I had briefly thought to ask about my hand when it felt hot, but as I regained my composure from the whirlwind caused by Baek Cheon-gyeom, I realized I didn’t have much time left.

With many tasks to complete today, I could not afford to spend time on Tang Deok.

Thus, I ordered Shin Yi to channel energy into Tang Soyeol and escort her again before heading to Shin Yi.

I had hinted that I would come by around this time, so Shin Yi didn’t seem too flustered.

As Shin Yi’s bony hand touched my wrist,

I felt a faint energy seep into my body.

This was Shin Yi’s energy.

I hadn’t felt this energy before, but now, perhaps due to my transformation, I could feel it distinctly.

‘How interesting.’

Shin Yi was not a martial artist. Yet, he possessed a smidgen of stakes.

How much did you say was necessary to check a martial artist’s pulse?

‘He can check me with that little amount of stakes?’

Although it was barely a trace of stakes, Shin Yi’s energy felt sturdy despite being soft, and it did not dissipate even as it surveyed my body.

The energy cabbled around from head to toe and returned to Shin Yi.

At this point, Shin Yi opened his eyes that had been closed and withdrew his hand from my body.

“… Hah….”

His sigh escaped shortly after.

“The vessel… has been rebuilt.”

The vessel that was on the verge of breaking had solidified, as Shin Yi pointed out.

“The frame has also strengthened, and the muscle density is exceptional. It wasn’t a poor physical body originally, but what on earth happened to you?”

“Is there anything I should be particularly cautious about?”

“None. I’ve never seen a body as perfect as this one before.”

Oh….

I couldn’t help but be astonished at that statement.

As Shin Yi has been known as the best healer in the Central Plains, he must have treated a myriad of martial artists.

To consider me the most outstanding among them was unbelievable.

‘So that means I could probably push myself a bit harder without worry, right?’

If I had a perfect body, that meant I could endure even more than before.

This must imply that I could significantly raise the intensity of my training.

[Hey, don’t talk about me like I’m merely a tool. Have you forgotten I’m still you?]

‘Isn’t it more convenient to see it that way? It’s not like I’m harboring another human body or anything.’

[No, hmmm… Alright. Do as you wish.]

Right after the pulse-check was finished, I twisted my body to test it out. Fortunately, it appeared no significant issues existed.

Just as I thought things were winding down—

“… However.”

Shin Yi suddenly voiced a concerned remark.

“There was a slightly strange aspect.”

“What do you mean?”

“There was something that seemed a little off, even though it was perfect. The frame and the muscles… Though not enough to warrant concern, there was a sense of dissonance.”

“…”

I couldn’t help but feel surprised at Shin Yi’s words.

The dissonance he described was…

‘… Must be remnants of the Body Transformation Technique, right?’

It likely stemmed from forcibly rearranging the muscles and bones to alter my body.

Even now, using the Body Transformation Technique, Shin Yi must have noticed that part.

This indicated that—

‘Even Shin Yi could only sense a minor dissonance.’

The flesh transformed by the Body Transformation Technique was so subtle that even Shin Yi couldn’t fully perceive it.

But then…

‘How did my father notice it immediately?’

That remained a curiosity.

As I contemplated this, I reached into my pocket to pull out an item I had intended to give to Shin Yi.

White Horse Stone.

When the resplendent stone appeared on the table, Shin Yi’s eyes widened.

“This is the White Horse Stone you mentioned.”

“… This is….”

Shin Yi reached out toward the White Horse Stone. Seeing this, I quickly pulled it away.

Just before his hand could touch it, the stone vanished, and I noticed Shin Yi’s frown deepen.

“What on earth are you doing?”

Was he in jest?

That might not be far from the truth.

“I thought I’d just hand it over, but it seems I need to attach one more condition.”

“… What?”

As I smiled and spoke, Shin Yi’s expression soured further.

That made sense; after all, this was a deal that was supposed to have conditions agreed upon beforehand, and now I was adding another one.

But what could I do?

At present, I was the one in the position of power, while Shin Yi found himself beneath me.

He was well aware of this, so he couldn’t voice his annoyance.

‘That only highlighted how important this must be.’

As I narrowed my eyes at Shin Yi’s silence, I pondered just how crucial it was that he desired it so desperately.

Was it about giving Jiegal Hyeok a slight nudge? He had certainly mentioned something along those lines.

‘That could wait until later.’

I had no pressing need to know right now.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to use this stone for something?”

That was the essence of it.

“I’d like to witness the process firsthand.”

It was enough to learn about it when the time came.

“…!”

Shin Yi’s eyes widened at my statement.

The idea that I intended to watch him utilize the White Horse Stone.

And further, that meant.

Incredibly, it was also Shin Noya’s intention.

 

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