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Flower Petals in the Sky

“Whoa…”

A cascade of petals dancing in the sky captures my attention.

The ashen sky and the void are completely obscured as they perpetually bloom and transform.

It’s a vast field unfurled in the heavens. Stunningly beautiful, it’s enough to steal the dryness from my eyes.

And it’s not due to mere chance that these petals appeared; they are the manifestation of someone’s will and enlightenment.

How can I not marvel at it?

“Hu…”

I let out a quiet sigh. What is that? The petals are so beautiful that I reach out. As my fingertips brush against one, the leaf trembles and cascades down.

The sensation was vivid.

I could honestly say it was indeed a petal.

“…!”

Having touched it directly, I couldn’t hide my astonishment.

“…The cohesion of a bet.”

One by one, each leaf contains an extraordinary level of energy. I’ve never seen such high compression before.

I recalled what Shin Noya always taught me.

Compression.

He mentioned that the energy of a martial artist is determined by how it is compressed and released.

As if to demonstrate that very point, Noya’s leaves are suffused with his enlightenment.

Thus, I stand here marveling endlessly.

“Isn’t it a bit early to be surprised?”

A voice mixed with laughter brushed against my ears.

“Don’t gaze at the blossoming leaves; look at the roots that support them.”

Following Shin Noya’s words, I shifted my gaze.

I could see his back.

A massive back, in stark contrast to his emaciated frame.

The old man stood there with his back toward me, lowering his sword.

Quivering.

The original hue. Not the azure colored by the feeding off my energy, but that scarlet hue it held the very first time I saw it.

As I quietly observed that sight—

Thud-!

The trembling leaves suddenly halted in the void.

My breath caught naturally.

It felt as if time had stopped. While fixated solely on Noya’s back in this strange sensation—

“How bizarre.”

A voice pierced through the space. It belonged to the entity before me.

“Truly bizarre.”

With blue hair and completely white irises.

The most peculiar being dared to discuss the bizarre.

“What’s so bizarre?”

As I looked on, Noya spat out the question, and the entity replied.

“How could such an insignificant form contain so much at midday? I find it somewhat admirable.”

“It sounds sincere, but flattery isn’t something I take kindly.”

“Truly commendable. Perhaps if you took just one step, you would have been the first to break through to the heavens.”

“Heavens, huh.”

At those words, Noya chuckled.

“That’s a rather futile term. Must one strive to reach that place?”

As he spoke, Noya moved slowly. The petals followed his leisurely steps.

“I have no interest in high places. Just planting a small seed and nurturing a single tree would suffice.”

“A tree?”

“That’s right. This sword is the tree I’ve cultivated. How about it? Haven’t I nurtured it well?”

Hwa-a-a-a-a-a-a—!

The leaves began to move as if being carried by the wind, gradually gathering around Noya’s Gui Jeong.

The petals clustered and clustered together.

To think such compressed energy was gathering there; had it been me, it would have crumbled and fallen apart by now. But not Noya.

“This is my tree.”

“Hm…”

“Taechon, was it? I may not know the nature of your heavens, but this is enough for me.”

‘Taechon?’

At the mention of that name, I frowned. Taechon? I’ve heard that before.

‘That’s…’

One of the places hidden among the Demonic Gates strategically placed by the Martial Alliance. I’ve heard one of those is Taechon.

Even aside from that.

‘…Isn’t that the entity the King of Demons has encountered?’

The master of the Taechon realm once visited by the King of Demons was said to bear that name.

‘Could it be?’

Is this creature really Taechon? What on earth is such a being doing here?

‘And to think it’s taking the form of a crow.’

Is the crow the mastermind behind whatever’s been happening?

It’s incomprehensible. Why is someone named Taechon acting like this?

In the midst of this unexpected chaos, I heard—

“Really good, isn’t it?”

Taechon nodded at Noya.

“I respect you. And I acknowledge you. Your tree carries that worth.”

“Thank you kindly.”

“Now, show me. How much can a humble soul like you, during midday, contain in its mere form?”

“You want me to perform?”

Heh heh heh.

Noya laughed out loud.

The converging leaves finally took form.

“Excellent. That’s something I’m quite good at.”

A sword stained red as blood.

I felt chills run down my spine as I beheld it.

That is no ordinary sword.

‘Plum Blossom.’

The Plum Blossom tree I’ve seen until now.

It was what Noya held.

The fragrance from the Plum Blossom, vitality, brilliance, and beauty.

At that moment, martial arts manifested nature.

That was the emotion and the chill I felt as a martial artist.

‘…That is.’

It’s absolutely possible.

The flowing sweat and rising goosebumps triggered something within me as a martial artist.

As I remained unable to tear my gaze from the Gui Jeong—

“Kid.”

Noya called out to me.

I couldn’t muster a reply. I just couldn’t.

“Watch closely.”

Noya didn’t seem to expect an answer from me. He calmly moved his sword. The tip of his blade drew a scarlet line in the air.

It was like painting with ink of that color.

“This is named Plum Blossom (梅華).”

Plum Blossom (梅華).

Without any further explanation, just the name.

I understood.

‘It simply bloomed, grew, and came to rest in one’s hand.’

Without losing its vitality, it remained just as it was.

Though it was forged from a bet, this is indeed a Plum Blossom.

What Shin Noya meant is surely that.

“Yangcheon.”

Noya called me by my name.

“Yes.”

My mouth flew open as if it were a lie.

“I’m holding my tree. Do you see it?”

“…I’m watching.”

“It doesn’t have to be a tree that you cultivate. But focus on the fact that you can bring forth something. What will you bring forth?”

“…”

I couldn’t respond.

Bring forth? It doesn’t have to be a tree? What can I bring forth? I had never thought of that before.

Yet here I was, in the same situation.

“Remember this.”

Noya didn’t urge me for an answer. The question wasn’t for me to reply.

“No matter what you become or wish to become; that’s of little importance. If you remain a martial artist, be mindful of what you wish to accomplish for yourself. That is what matters.”

“…”

“Now, watch closely.”

Noya moved.

The Plum Blossom swayed.

The fragrance drowned me.

“This is my tree.”

Noya held his entire life to block the heavens.

The gentle breeze carried the tree. I was entranced by the vast petals. New branches blossomed with petals, obscuring the ashen sky.

Plum Blossom (梅華).

The life of the old man fell toward Taechon.

Kugugugugugugugug—!!!

The sky split apart. The space that created the ashen heavens was torn asunder. Just a single swing caused this.

“Ha.”

Taechon laughed.

He caught the Plum Blossom with the spear held in his hand, but it was evident how hard it was to do so, as his hand trembled.

“Remarkable!”

His voice boomed.

“It’s coming to an end. It’s almost here.”

What exactly is ‘almost here’?

What does he mean by ‘the end’?

I couldn’t figure it out, but something felt familiar.

“Show me. Show me that you can reach out by your own power.”

It slipped away. Noya’s sword faltered but then connected to the next strike.

This was the moment.

Two rifts cut through Mount Tai. A cross-shaped line emerged on the ceiling.

Kugugukuung-!!!

The surroundings trembled. Taechon lightly stomped on the ground. In that moment, enormous tentacles burst forth from the earth.

They were colossal, far beyond what I had known.

Tentacles as large as a Red Demon Beast erupted. They charged straight for Noya.

Noya simply watched as he flicked his sword lightly.

Bam-! Bang bang bang-!!!

The tentacles burst apart, and in the gaps, Noya moved.

Not in a hurry. Just regular steps as he swung the sword.

With each falling strike of his sword, the heavens shook below, and the Heart Sword began to rise.

Taechon gazed at it with a smile.

“How fascinating.”

Boom-! Kwang-!!!

The Heart Sword embedded itself into the ground. The impact caused the earth to leap.

Taechon’s upper body shattered. It cracked and broke.

Yet through it all, Taechon’s eyes remained fixated solely on Noya.

“I’m intrigued. I desire you, Shin Cheol.”

His interest warped into obsession.

As he uttered those words, Noya’s Plum Blossom invaded his throat.

Clang-!!

It couldn’t penetrate.

Noya’s Plum Blossom was blocked by some unseen wall, freezing its movement.

But it didn’t matter.

Gui Jeong.

Noya seemed unfazed by even that wall; he poured all his energy into breaking through.

Creaking—!!!

“Phew.”

Yet the sword wouldn’t penetrate.

But Noya, with his breath, expended all his strength.

Crack-!!

In the end, he cut through it.

Taechon grinned widely at the sight.

“You’ve reached it.”

A brief statement.

A fleeting admiration.

“Divine Status.”

The Plum Blossom’s ink pierced Taechon’s throat. It was as if he meant to cleave Taechon in half.

“Congratulations-.”

Just as Taechon was about to speak to Noya—

Crisp.

“…Huh?”

At the sound, I opened my eyes wide.

Gui Jeong fell.

And Noya’s arm that wielded it crumbled away.

“…Noya!”

Seeing that, I dashed forward immediately.

 

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