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Chapter 297: Listening to Jegal Jinsun (1)

The time was dark.

Finally, as if it were about to rain, dark clouds were steadily gathering.

The thick clouds covered the moon.

Without the moonlight, the forest was simply dark.

Swa… thud—

The demon beasts lingering around held their breath.

Even the beasts, who had lost their sanity and were consumed by gluttony, seemed to retain a spark of their intrinsic nature.

They recognized that those standing before them were entities they could not dare approach.

Rustle.

The fluttering hem of clothing broke the silence with its sound.

Woo—

The sword in my hand resonated, unleashing a sword aura.

As the dark clouds that had covered the moon shifted slightly, moonlight briefly illuminated the forest.

As the light shone, the silhouettes of two figures emerged amidst the trees.

One was a beautiful woman with white hair and blue eyes.

The other was a similarly beautiful woman with golden hair and golden eyes.

The woman with white hair, the Demon Sword Queen, held a sword that emitted a blue light.

She pointed the Thunder Fang’s tip at the other woman.

The thunderous energy that gradually emanated swirled around menacingly.

In contrast, the expression of the very person radiating the thunder energy remained utterly calm.

The emotions hidden behind that expression were unreadable.

Yet, the faint scent of blood wafting through the air indicated that she was not an entirely safe individual, regardless of her composed demeanor.

-What’s going on?

Only a cold, resolute tone replied.

The killing intent that thickly clung to her voice made the surrounding beast demons shrink back even more.

The wind blew.

From across the way came a breeze carrying the pungent smell of blood.

At the end of that breeze lay the corpses of attack squads sent by Shaolin and Wudang.

They sprawled across the plains, creating puddles of their spilled blood.

Dozens had attacked at once.

Yet, the Demon Sword Queen had killed them all without receiving a scratch.

So dignified.

Such was my impression when I first laid eyes on her.

The woman who heard the Demon Sword Queen’s question still wore a hesitant expression.

The sword’s tip did not waver as it locked onto the woman before her.

It sent shivers down my spine.

The Demon Sword Queen was feeling a long-lost sense of tension.

The woman before her was an existence that could easily evoke that feeling.

Amidst the dimming moonlight, the golden qi, similar to her hair, shone vividly.

Wi Seol-Ah of the So Sword Sect.

An heir to the Sword Sovereign and a woman referred to as the hope of the Central Plains.

She had just finished the previous assault.

As if she had been waiting for this moment, the So Sword Sect had now appeared.

The Demon Sword Queen aimed the Thunder Fang at her, raising her energy.

At that moment, she was someone she had long desired to meet in combat.

Guhehehe….

The martial artist at the pinnacle of his realm emitted a unique energy and killing intent that even stopped the flowing wind in its tracks.

As the Demon Sword Queen’s aura surged forward, the So Sword Sect was unfazed.

Looking at her, she opened her mouth.

-I have something to say.

—You… to me?

At the words of the So Sword Sect, the Demon Sword Queen paused her ominously rising energy.

It was an unexpected statement.

To her, conversation had not existed outside of exchanges with swords.

-What do you mean?

Yet, the reason she leaned in to listen was that the existence of the So Sword Sect was something that mattered to her.

After some hesitation, the So Sword Sect finally spoke up.

-…Tomorrow, the Meng’s attack squad will be coming after you.

This incomprehensible statement caused a brief shock.

The Demon Sword Queen thought she misheard.

This wasn’t something that could be said by a woman renowned as the hope of the realm and of the Meng.

-…What kind of nonsense is this?

Her vigilance only heightened.

No matter how much she had heard others say that the Demon Sword Queen was absent-minded when it came to the Mage, that was not the case.

Surely, this was not a matter to be discussed with her, especially by someone claiming to be the central figure of the Meng.

Crack—

As if the Thunder Fang was angry, it belted out thunder energy.

Boom!

With a sound similar to a cry, the energy slowly advanced towards the So Sword Sect.

But whoosh—!

The golden qi lingering about deftly defended against the encroachment of the thunder energy.

As the two energies clashed, a colossal vibration resonated throughout the area.

-This isn’t a joke.

-…If it isn’t, then why are you telling me this?

The Demon Sword Queen questioned, unable to make sense of the situation.

However, the So Sword Sect offered no response.

-…This attack will involve the Heavenly Lord.

-So?

-No matter how it is, even you and the Mage won’t be able to escape easily.

The mention of the Heavenly Lord, along with this woman considered the righteous envoy of the Meng preparing for a simultaneous assault, clicked in the Demon Sword Queen’s mind.

Realizing the gravity of the message the So Sword Sect had come to convey, she understood.

-So Sword Sect.

-Yes…

-Are you worried about the Mage?

At the Demon Sword Queen’s blunt words, the So Sword Sect visibly flinched.

Such a ridiculous reaction.

A woman hailed as the hope of the realm ignored the corpses behind her to come relay such a message to her.

How ironic and pitiful was she?

Did the So Sword Sect realize how contradictory she was?

Probably not.

And the Demon Sword Queen had no intention of conveying this sentiment either.

Even if she did, she knew: “He will go.”

Regardless of whether he was aware that he was heading to where death awaited, he would undoubtedly set out for that destination.

Crack.

The thunder energy that had flared up dissipated.

The overwhelming aura and killing intent that pressed down around them faded.

It was because the Demon Sword Queen reined in her energy.

-It’s an order from the Cult Leader.

The words of the Heavenly Demon were law.

Of course, she knew that the reasons behind his journey were not solely due to the Heavenly Demon’s summons.

Yet, she could not comprehend it.

What had the woman before her experienced to make such a decision?

The Demon Sword Queen did not understand.

Nor did she wish to.

The woman’s life had been solely about mastering the sword and seeking liberation.

No.

Now that she had reached this point, she felt she might understand a little.

At this moment, it was too late to voice any of it.

As the Demon Sword Queen answered, the So Sword Sect displayed a look filled with uncertainty.

What kind of emotion was that?

The Demon Sword Queen, who wasn’t adept at reading others’ feelings, remained quite vague.

-…If you go there, then really…

-He won’t die.

-…What?

The woman before her was utterly indecisive.

Would she live as a hero?

Or would she move towards another kind of choice?

She couldn’t make up her mind about either.

How disappointing.

The So Sword Sect had seemed more akin to her, yet she was human.

A character that claimed to be a Demon while being human herself.

Then, what was the emotion currently swirling within her?

The Demon Sword Queen did not realize it was jealousy until the moment she faced death.

– He won’t die.

-…The Demon Sword Queen.

-I’ll make sure of it.

As she brushed her hair back, she declared so.

What did her words mean?

The Demon Sword Queen repeated her own words constantly in her mind.

The So Sword Sect remained unchanged.

Her eyes wavered, her unreadable expression the same.

If she were to strike now, she could easily sever her neck in one swift motion.

Should I do it?

The Demon Sword Queen briefly contemplated igniting the Thunder Fang in flames.

But she ultimately decided against it.

She felt no desire to act on that impulse.

She studied the So Sword Sect closely.

The energy surrounding her was pure.

The golden qi wrapping around them was dazzling.

However, her eyes were lifeless.

As if she was about to collapse from exhaustion.

Her body was enveloped by fatigue, while the resplendent energy was somehow unstable.

If the martial artist before her appeared this way, then it was truly laughable.

If she was indeed the hope of the Central Plains, then the Demon Sword Queen felt she could easily take her down now.

Then.

[If so.]

[Would he dislike that?]

The thought flitted through the mind of the Demon Sword Queen, causing her fingertips to freeze in place.

When had she started to harbor such thoughts?

How unsettling and uncomfortable it felt.

Suddenly, an idea came to her, and she voiced it without hesitation.

-For some reason… I think I dislike you.

For some reason, that thought felt conclusive.

The So Sword Sect regarded the Demon Sword Queen’s statement silently without a response.

Incomplete.

How could someone with such energy fall prey to an evil spirit?

The Demon Sword Queen couldn’t comprehend it.

-If you’re so worried, why not go directly yourself?

It shouldn’t be a matter for her to come and tell him.

If she truly cared, she could just go and prevent it herself.

If it were the Demon Sword Queen, she would undoubtedly do so.

She could simply cut through any undesired outcome.

Seeing the So Sword Sect biting her lip at her words, the Demon Sword Queen added:

-Coward.

—…!

Immediately after speaking, she felt her interest in the So Sword Sect dwindle.

She turned her back on her and walked away.

She remembered that if she was late again, he wouldn’t let it slide.

And the fact that the So Sword Sect spoke those words today was something the Demon Sword Queen would never share with him.

The reason was the same as before.

She simply didn’t wish to tell him.

If it was a slight complaint, then so be it.

After the Demon Sword Queen had left, the So Sword Sect was left alone.

She lifted her gaze to the sky.

The slowly shining moonlight was completely obscured by dark clouds.

…

….

!

.

And there it was.

-Coward.

The words left by the Demon Sword Queen pierced her heart.

—Coward….

That’s right.

I am a coward.

Staying breathless and refusing to make a single choice.

What else could that be, if not cowardice?

I’m exhausted.

Exhausted and struggling to breathe.

Yet, I still had to move.

Until when?

How far?

Why me?

Habitually, I questioned myself.

But, as always, there was no answerer.

-Great Lord…!

As I shut my eyes for just a moment, a voice crept into my ears.

Just then, the So Sword Sect could finally open her eyes.

When she turned her head, members of the Meng appeared.

-Ugh…!

As one member approached, they clasped their nose.

Despite it wafting from a distance, the smell of blood was far too strong.

-Great Lord… where’s the Demon Sword Queen?

-By the time I arrived, she had already fled.

-What…! It seems we’ve arrived too late, even with the Great Lord’s haste… how troubling, indeed. Great Lord.

Given the member’s words, the So Sword Sect nodded slightly.

The voice was devoid of any doubt.

-…If you head further back, there should be traces of others. Let’s clean up and retreat.

-Understood! Move out!

-Yes!

As the others began to move, the So Sword Sect also urged her weary body to follow suit.

She couldn’t show any signs of exhaustion.

She was the So Sword Sect.

She was their hero.

And just a few days later, the Demon Sword Queen kept her word.

By taking her place, the So Sword Sect lost her life, and he survived.

“…Sister?”

At Wi Seol-Ah’s words, the woman halted her thoughts.

It was still a memory she wished to avoid.

How much longer could she linger in this moment?

She could feel deep down that time was truly running out.

So before that happened,

She had to finish everything she was capable of.

-I once said.

“Yeah?”

-…The Moonlit Sword Technique is a technique that mirrors the moon, but you must not chase after the moon.

“Yeah…”

Though it was an abrupt statement, Wi Seol-Ah nodded.

The woman seemed to sound somewhat urgent.

-Hurry, I hope you find the meaning of that phrase quickly.

“…Yes.”

You must not chase after the moon with the Moonlit Sword Technique.

What could that possibly mean?

It felt like a bizarre statement that refused to provide answers.

Wi Seol-Ah kept questioning its meaning, but the woman insisted she shouldn’t reveal it.

She needed to discover it on her own.

Only then could Wi Seol-Ah truly achieve what she desired.

‘What I wish for.’

Wi Seol-Ah pondered.

What was it that she truly desired?

Her yearning had remained unchanged since the beginning.

She would protect him.

That was the sword she had learned for that purpose.

It was the initial goal she had set.

It must not fade away.

It must be so.

Then, in the forest where the fierce confrontation had occurred, lay someone gazing up at the sky.

“Ugh… damn it.”

How exhausted was she that her body refused to respond to her words?

Could she even move her fingers with such effort?

Hah.

Leaving behind her aching body, she finally let out a sigh.

She felt utterly depleted.

“Things are getting hellishly tough.”

The sky she was staring at while lying down felt like it was spinning.

“Nggh…

She made an effort to rise, but it was no easy feat.

She likely had more wounds than just a few.

‘Curse that old man.’

She had surely landed the strike on his abdomen.

Yet, Bi Yi-jin seemed perfectly fine despite taking it head-on.

“Was that not bad? I swear, is he a monster?”

Even after taking that hit, he nonchalantly remarked, “Not bad at all.”

The real issue came afterward.

‘Not even a graze.’

At first, he appeared to be taken aback by the sudden increase in speed.

But after exchanging several attacks, it became as if he had acclimated to her surged blood energy.

He deflected every one of her strikes.

Even if her body was fine, she was unsure of what would happen if she faced him.

It would be unbearable to fight in her current state.

‘…I knew there would be a difference, but I didn’t think it would be this stark.’

Bi Yi-jin moved as if he were aware of every distance between them.

The way he extended his limbs and adjusted his bent joints all seemed calculated.

He appeared to be watching not just where she would strike last, but he understood every motion she made.

She had experienced this in her previous life, but now, in her current state, the difference felt real.

What they called the peak of martial arts was not just a phrase.

And the result of that was her loss.

“…I lost.”

To make matters worse, she had even lost the belt she had been clinging to.

Blood energy couldn’t be sustained for long, not in her injured state; fatigue crept in quickly.

Ultimately, as soon as her energy waned, the decision was made, and she found herself lying flat on the ground.

How long had it been since her last defeat?

This was the first loss she encountered at the late-stage talent level.

‘…Although it was more than just that.’

Considering that Bi Yi-jin was the Pejon, it was understandable given the body’s experience with the Rejuvenation Technique.

Even with the excuse of her injuries, things had favored her greatly.

She wasn’t sure if she could have won had she been at full strength.

If she poured all her energy into betting, would the outcome have changed?

She couldn’t be satisfied just with that.

The loss felt infuriating, yet her past life had been a succession of defeats.

At this point, losing once carried no weight for her.

As this thought crossed her mind, she felt a tinge of sorrow.

-You are genuinely strange. Your fighting skills have remarkably progressed in proportion to your visible talents.

Just as she was about to lose her belt and leave, Bi Yi-jin reverted to his original tone to speak those words to her.

‘Remarkably progressing in fighting skills,’ she mused.

She had certainly felt it recently.

Basing it upon her overwhelming energy level, she had accomplished controlling flames and adjusting her attacks.

Yet, despite that, she needed to train more in hand-to-hand combat.

-Now that I’ve won the bet, following our promise, let’s set up a deal for later.

Just then, the voice of Pejon echoed in her mind.

Being a Pejon, he must have given her some advice.

But even so, this wasn’t the moment for that.

‘No, that’s not it.’

Now would be the time to seek her father.

The one who might have reached the pinnacle of her martial arts would be right there.

It would be better to learn directly from her father.

It was unimaginable that he would impart any knowledge to her.

“Just a bit more… after resting a little…” I’ll have to go fetch my belt.

As she thought that and moved her head, she spoke.

“…Ugh, this is annoying…”

She sensed an unfamiliar presence she hadn’t noticed before.

Perhaps she had been too fatigued to sense it properly.

This was becoming troublesome.

Right now was quite inconvenient.

And it felt all too close.

Too close indeed.

Considering her position…

‘Right…? Beside me?’

Just then.

Swoosh!

A hand dove toward her, likely going for her belt.

‘…But.’

Thwack.

“Why so slow?”

“Ugh…!”

The surprise attack lost its impact due to its sluggish speed, allowing her to seize the assailant’s wrist easily.

If they were slow enough to get caught despite her current state, they were exceedingly sluggish.

How had they survived until the third trial?

She had wanted to rest a bit longer, but given the circumstances, she pushed herself up.

As she forced herself to stand, her muscles screamed in protest.

She gritted her teeth.

The opponent appeared to struggle in pulling back the arm she had captured.

Clearly, they lacked the strength to do so.

Using the captured arm as leverage, she assessed the stranger.

“What’s your deal?”

“I—I made a mistake!”

The attacker had black hair, and their long bangs obscured their face.

Their panicked demeanor, faced with capture, was pathetically weak.

A guy with such a wimpy appearance.

“Hmm?”

Amid the hair shielding their visage.

Tears trembled in their eyes as they looked up.

Upon catching a glance at those eyes, she tightened her grip on their neck.

“Cough…! Wait…!”

“Who are you?”

Indifferent to the captured wrist, she lifted their bangs.

Then unveiled their hidden face and eyes.

“Ha?”

Upon seeing the face, she let out a sigh of disappointment.

She was contemplating how to search amid this mess when the person she had been looking for came to her willingly.

‘No way…’

Could she even declare them a “person”?

They had seemingly morphed from a woman’s figure in her previous life.

 

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