Book 18 Chapter 18

The Nun of Amitabha and Biryuyeon

- Namgung Sang, Whose Fate is Toyed With by the Hands of Others

"Just a moment!"

As Namgung Sang was contemplating whether or not to draw his sword, Biryuyeon intervened.

"And who might you be?"

Jin Soryeong asked the interloper who had suddenly appeared.

"My name is Biryuyeon."

Biryuyeon replied with a slight bow. To Jin Soryeong's surprise, she knew the name.

"Biryuyeon? Don't tell me you're the Biryuyeon who 'accidentally' won the recent Amitabha branch tournament?"

Jin Soryeong had only recently heard the name and the rumors swirling around him. The story was that an unknown young man had been decided as the winner of the contentious Amitabha branch tournament, and everyone was tight-lipped about the circumstances and reasons for his victory.

"I don't know why the word 'accidentally' is attached, but yes, I am that Biryuyeon."

He didn't seem bothered by the negative rumors circulating about him. He knew that no matter how others judged him, he remained himself. After all, rumors could always be fabricated or exaggerated according to one's intentions, so he believed it was pointless to pay too much attention to them.

"So, what did you want to say?"

Jin Soryeong asked again.

"That it's unfair."

"Unfair?"

"Yes, it's unfair."

"What is unfair?"

"When you compare our standing in the martial arts world, our age, and our reputation, there's a significant gap between us. Furthermore, she is also the aunt of the person I love. In many ways, I am at a disadvantage."

"And so?"

"Therefore, if things are pushed forward unilaterally like this, I, being timid, will have no choice but to reluctantly agree to a situation unfavorable to me. So if this isn't unfair, what is? Wouldn't you agree?"

Jin Soryeong did not get angry. Biryuyeon's words seemed plausible. She also wanted to avoid the reputation of having coerced an unwanted duel.

"There's some truth to what you say."

Jin Soryeong replied after a moment of thought.

"Of course there is."

Biryuyeon said with a confident tone.

"Then how can it be made fair?"

That was the question he had been waiting for.

"You requested the duel, so shouldn't I be the one to decide how it's conducted?"

Biryuyeon laid out his plan, which he had been secretly preparing since he decided to intervene.

"That makes sense. That's a good idea. Let's do that."

Jin Soryeong replied indifferently. A master of her caliber wouldn't quibble over minor details. It was all going according to his plan.

"What method would be best?"

At this point, he had to provide an answer that Jin Soryeong would find acceptable. He couldn't persuade her by force.

"I've heard rumors that there's a secret sword technique in the Amitabha sect called 'Flying Lotus (飛翔蓮花)'."

As Biryuyeon casually dropped the hint, Jin Soryeong was slightly surprised.

"That's right. We do have such a technique."

Her surprise was evident in her tone. She hadn't expected him to know such a fact. If so, it was a success. In fact, he had learned about the rumor by pressing Jin Ling.

"I heard that for the past fifty years, no one except the Amitabha sect leader has mastered that technique, right?"

"That's right."

Jin Soryeong readily admitted. It wasn't something to hide, just not widely known.

"But I heard that you have mastered that secret technique, is that true?"

"Lady?"

Yuran, who had been standing quietly behind, almost spat out blood at Biryuyeon's audacity in addressing Jin Soryeong as "Lady." Jin Soryeong remained unfazed.

"It's not something to hide. It's true. But what does that have to do with the duel?"

"Of course it's related."

"If you ask me not to use that technique in the duel, I can do that. I have no intention of using such a powerful technique anyway."

However, Jin Soryeong's guess was wrong.

"No, it's the opposite. I want you to use only that technique and none of the others. In other words, if you can counter the secret technique called Flying Lotus, it will be my victory, and if you fail, it will be your victory. How about that?"

"Are you serious?"

Jin Soryeong asked in genuine surprise. She had never imagined such a proposal.

"Do you know what kind of technique that is when you make such a suggestion?"

"A little."

Biryuyeon replied in a calm voice.

"And yet, you intend to face that technique head-on?"

"I'm the one facing it head-on, not you."

With that, Biryuyeon pointed at Namgung Sang with both hands.

If Jin Ling had been present, she would have been so shocked that she would have screamed "No!" and tried to stop him by any means necessary. As a disciple of the Amitabha sect, she knew better than anyone how fearsome that technique was.

And she would have felt extremely wronged. At the time, she had thought Biryuyeon was asking about it to seal Jin Soryeong's ultimate technique. But she had momentarily forgotten that her senior disciple brother's wicked schemes always unfolded in unpredictable directions.

"Wouldn't it be much more advantageous to prevent me from using it?"

Jin Soryeong countered. Her words revealed a confidence that she could easily endure such a restriction. Namgung Sang also wanted to chime in, thinking it was a very good idea. However, Biryuyeon's answer was the exact opposite of his expectations.

"Huh? Then it's cowardly, isn't it?"

Biryuyeon said without changing his expression. At the word "cowardly," Namgung Sang's face turned blank for a moment. His thoughts were paralyzed. Since when had his senior disciple brother become so honorable? The world suddenly felt like a joke.

"There's no meaning in winning if you don't break through head-on. That way, wouldn't Lady accept it? Would I seem worthy of being Jin Ling's partner if I won by banning everything else? I'd have to live with the label of someone who won by being constantly given concessions."

"That's certainly true. I hadn't considered that. I almost did something I shouldn't have to that person."

Jin Soryeong nodded in admiration of Biryuyeon's seemingly fair attitude. She was completely persuaded by Biryuyeon's words.

"I apologize, Young Hero Namgung."

"Oh, no. An apology? That's out of the question."

Namgung Sang frantically waved his hands in shock. When Jin Soryeong was even apologizing, how could he continue to cling to her skirt so miserably? He realized he had been cornered.

"Well, even if it's countered, it doesn't mean it's truly broken. It just means it's blocked. If you're not hit by the technique, it's my victory. If you are, it's yours. What do you say?"

"A killing technique is a technique meant to kill the opponent. If you fail to kill the enemy, it's safe to say the technique has been countered."

It was an extremely strict, no, a harsh standard.

"You certainly understand it well."

Biryuyeon seemed to understand her way of thinking very well and kept agreeing.

"But if you can't block this technique, you could die? Let me be clear, I have no intention of holding back. I consider that an insult to my opponent."

Suddenly, Namgung Sang was gripped by the thought that perhaps being insulted once wouldn't be so bad, but he managed to escape it.

"Well, that's my fate."

Biryuyeon, who had arbitrarily intervened in the fate of others, now suddenly shifted the responsibility to the person involved.

"Th-that…"

Namgung Sang was utterly indignant, but at that moment, he was powerless to forge his own destiny. Cruel fate was dancing a violent dance that would sweep him away from beyond his reach.

"Then when would be good? Set a date."

"How about fifteen days from now?"

The finals of the Grand Martial Arts Competition would begin then, and they both agreed that everyone would be busy.

"Good."

"Then I will inform you of the location."

"No complaints."

"Where are you staying now?"

"I'm staying at the Jungyang Express Company's Namchang branch."

When he heard a familiar place, Biryuyeon briefly looked up and stared at her intently.

"That's unexpected."

He hadn't known she had any connection to the Jungyang Express Company either.

"I know that place well, so I'll contact you there."

"Then I'll see you in fifteen days."

"In fifteen days."

Biryuyeon replied.

"She's truly an amazing aunt. It's understandable that Jin Ling is so worked up."

Biryuyeon said as he watched the direction Jin Soryeong and Yuran had disappeared with the children. Namgung Sang was still in a state of confusion due to the sudden, overwhelming reality.

"What should I do now?"

As expected, his face showed clear signs of bewilderment. A fate he had not chosen. He couldn't properly decide what to do.

"Tsk, tsk, this is the destiny you chose. Don't think it's my destiny. That's a big mistake. I'm just an accomplice helping you grasp the destiny you've chosen."

Namgung Sang wondered when the word "help" had become synonymous with "ruining everything." Moreover, no matter how hard he searched his memory, he couldn't recall choosing such a destiny.

However, he was sure that if he protested with "This destiny doesn't feel like I chose it," he would only receive a knuckle rap in return. Was fate truly a monster that humans couldn't control? Perhaps it was just a monster wearing a human guise, appearing more clearly by his side.

"You must seize your own destiny yourself. Shall we go?"

Biryuyeon said, stretching.

"Where are we going?"

"To special training!"

He meant they were going to do that.

"Are we doing that again? We finished already!"

Namgung Sang truly wanted to escape this time. He had just breathed a sigh of relief, thinking he had finally escaped hell, but now he had to be dragged back into it? He absolutely wanted to avoid that.

"Huh? Wasn't that a warm-up? For the real training! You won't be able to block that technique with just that! Do you want to die before you get married?"

"No, I want to get married."

"Don't worry! I won't let you die. Just trust me. Besides, this one will be short! It's a fifteen-day intensive course!"

Biryuyeon seemed genuinely happy. The thought that his misfortune brought joy to Biryuyeon made Namgung Sang even more depressed.

"What about the Jungyang Express Company's Namchang branch?"

Although a few things happened in between, their original destination was the Jungyang Express Company's Namchang branch. However, Biryuyeon seemed to have lost interest in it.

"Something more important has come up, so I'll go later. Do you think I can go there in this situation? Besides, you said that strong elder sister is staying there, so it's not good to go until after the duel."

Knowing that they had arrived safely was enough. It wasn't too late to deal with the finer details after the duel.

Then, Biryuyeon turned away from his path towards the Jungyang Express Company and returned to the Cheonmu Academy with Namgung Sang.

* * *

Swish!

A streak of silver light gracefully cut through the middle of the forest, drawing spirals as if swimming. Like a bird with a will of its own, it freely cut through the currents of the wind, a single, pure white sword.

If an ordinary person had seen this, they would have cried out in terror, "Agh! A haunted sword!"

Although it was indeed a sword.

However, that was because ignorance interfered with correct perception; it was not the reality.

On the other hand, if someone with even a little knowledge of martial arts had seen this, they would have exclaimed and then been shocked in a different sense, "This, this is sword manipulation!"

A wondrous state where the sword is floated in mid-air and freely controlled without being touched, using qi. It was a phantom realm that every swordsman dreamed of reaching (though it was a prejudice).

There were no invisible strings attached. It wasn't an illusion. Nevertheless, it floated in mid-air, moving like a carp swimming, shaking its silver fins.

Fwiish!

The sword, dancing with the wind, suddenly soared into the sky and became a single dot. As if intent on piercing the heavens and reaching the moon, the sword shot upwards, then inexplicably stopped.

Perfect stillness. For that fleeting moment, all existence was confined in silence.

Ssssk!

The next moment, the sword slowly tilted its tip, using the hilt as an axis. It soon became parallel to the ground and did not stop falling after that. Once the tip had passed its zenith, it was now pointing towards the ground.

Fwoosh!

The sword, which had been suspended perfectly in the middle of the sky, fell with terrifying speed.

Sensing the sharp killing intent aimed at his Baihui acupoint, Namgung Sang's eyes snapped open. He had never experienced an attack falling vertically from above him.

"Hmph!"

Namgung Sang had no choice but to retreat.

However, the sword did not stop. The sword, which had been falling like white lightning towards the ground, suddenly stopped. The tip of the sword, which had stopped just before lodging in the ground, began to search for its vanished target. It hadn't gone far, and there was still a chance.

Fwoosh!

Once again, the sword became a white flash and shot towards Namgung Sang. Not many humans could wield sword manipulation to this extent with such freedom. Who was the owner of this sword? And why was he so relentlessly targeting Namgung Sang?

The name of this sword was 'Ice White,' and its owner was Bing Geom Gwan Cheolsu, one of the Five Great Sword Masters, a renowned swordsman known throughout the martial arts world.

'Can I do it now?'

Namgung Sang turned around and drew his sword. A sword flying straight at him. It was fast, but not impossibly so. He thought there was a chance. But that was a mistake.

The white body of the sword, as if covered in frost, flickered for a moment, creating two images.

"Wh-what is this, Sword Projection Art!"

Namgung Sang's mouth hung open. This was cheating.

It was a supreme, advanced technique that could be called a clone technique of sword manipulation. It was a profoundly difficult, top-tier technique, on a completely different level from simple sword manipulation. It was so rare that most swordsmen would never even witness it properly in their lifetime.

Pew! Pew!

The sword, split into two, flew towards Namgung Sang without a moment's respite, relentlessly attacking from left and right. Unpredictable, combined left-and-right assaults.

'I can't avoid it!'

Namgung Sang squeezed his eyes shut.

"Kyaaaaak!"

Seeing his state, Jin Ling let out a desperate scream.

* * *

A day passed after the unexpected encounter with Jin Soryeong, and Namgung Sang finally mustered the courage to ask Biryuyeon a question.

"Senior Disciple Brother!"

"Why?"

"Um… what kind of technique is that 'Flying Lotus' you mentioned? Why did you choose that technique?"

Ever since he heard the name of the technique yesterday, Namgung Sang had been very curious about it. Finally, he gathered the courage to ask…

"Huh? You didn't know?"

He said it in a tone that assumed he would know. But Namgung Sang had no idea.

"Yes, I didn't."

"It's an Amitabha sect sword technique, isn't it? Didn't Jin Ling teach it to you?"

"She didn't teach it to me."

Namgung Sang was a little hurt.

"Jin Ling said that it's more of a state of being than a technique."

"A state of being?"

"Yes. To put it simply, that technique is sword manipulation."

"W-what did you just say?"

For a moment, Namgung Sang suspected his ears were deceiving him. But Biryuyeon shattered his expectations.

"It's sword manipulation! That 'Flying Lotus' technique is."

At that answer, Namgung Sang's mind plunged into a state of panic.

"You know, controlling a sword in mid-air without touching it with qi. Don't you know that?"

Not knowing was not the issue here.

"Then you're telling me I have to face sword manipulation head-on?"

"No!"

Biryuyeon replied firmly. Then, a slight hint of relief appeared on Namgung Sang's face.

"You have to face it and counter it. It's meaningless if you just spar and don't break it."

Thump!

A sound like a thousand jin weight of iron falling onto his heart echoed. His head suddenly spun. The pressure of having to directly confront the sword manipulation of the Amitabha's top master, one of the Five Great Sword Masters, felt like it would crush his mind and body.

"Don't worry!"

Does it look like I shouldn't worry?

"I've already prepared everything."

Prepared my foot.

Clap, clap!

"Please come out!"

Biryuyeon clapped his hands twice, and a person walked out from behind the bushes.

At that moment, Namgung Sang felt a sudden chill run down his spine. It wasn't because they were deep in the mountains. It wasn't because he had a cold. It was because the opponent who could instantly dispel the warmth of spring was right in front of him. And he had to face him with a sword.

"Bing Geom, Great Master!"

The person who appeared was, surprisingly, Bing Geom Gwan Cheolsu.

"It's been a while."

Since the Amitabha branch tournament, they had been too busy to see each other much. Bing Geom also had been swamped with the aftermath. Now that he finally had some breathing room, this was the situation. Bing Geom also didn't find it particularly pleasant.

"Introduce yourself. This is the person who will temper you for the next fifteen days."

Biryuyeon said with a smirk.

"Training is best done in practice. You can get a feel for how to fight in a short time by sparring with someone of similar skill. So…"

Biryuyeon said to Bing Geom.

"Don't hold back at all!"

Bing Geom truly did not hold back.

* * *

"…Huh?"

Namgung Sang slightly opened his eyes, which he had squeezed shut. Then, in silence, he moved his right hand and touched his forehead. It was smooth. Fortunately, he found no beautifully pierced holes. He was still alive. His dignity, however, had taken a hit. Fortunately, he didn't have to wash his pants. That was a great relief. He didn't want to show any more unsightly scenes.

"Are you comfortable?"

Namgung Sang unconsciously replied to the voice that came from somewhere.

"Yes."

"Then do you want to keep lying down?"

"Is that okay?"

The sky, which was so cold and blue, entered his eyes. He had never been so happy to see the sky that had always been above him. Come to think of it, it seemed to have a depth different from the usual blue. He was happy. Although that happiness was fleeting.

"Of course. What's so difficult about making you bedridden for a few months?"

Pop!

Namgung Sang's body reflexively shot up, as if bursting through the grass. He looked at the person who had asked him the question.

"S-senior disciple brother…"

"Why? You said you wanted to keep lying down?"

"Ah, no. There's still a mountain of training to be done, so I can't just laze around with such good fortune. Absolutely not."

"Oh? That's a bit of a shame."

Biryuyeon said casually, brushing off his clenched right fist. Namgung Sang didn't want to ask or imagine what was a shame.

"What are you cowering for, Namgung Sang? Is that technique so scary?"

"Of course it is. It's sword manipulation! And with Sword Projection Art added. Isn't it one of the highest realms of swordsmanship? It's a realm that any swordsman dreams of. How can I not be afraid when I have to face such a supreme technique head-on?"

Thwack!

Stars flashed. It seemed Biryuyeon now possessed the terrifying ability to even drop stars from the sky.

"What are you using your eyes for? Do you think your head is just there to balance you? What's the point of having eyes you can't even look straight with? Just…"

As Biryuyeon made scissors with his fingers and gestured to stab, Namgung Sang flinched and covered his eyes with both hands.

"Tsk, tsk. You're being toyed with by illusions created by others, and you're afraid before you even face their reality. Why did you go through hellish training? Why does it manifest when you spar with weaker opponents, but disappear as if you never received such training when you face someone stronger than you? You've already lost before you've even begun. It's not the sword manipulation, but a monstrous illusion called 'fixed notion' created by collective consciousness."

"Ill-illusion?"

"Yes, illusion."

"The fact that sword manipulation seems incredibly powerful is all an illusion. It's an illusion inflated by people's mouths. Well, it might work on beginners or intermediate practitioners—if such a thing exists—but it can hardly be called an effective attack for those above that level."

"Is that really true?"

Namgung Sang's eyes widened.

Biryuyeon tried his best to make a face that would best express how pathetic he found these people and nodded his head.

"Do you know what's scary about sword manipulation? Have you ever thought about it?"

"No."

Namgung Sang replied in a voice as small as a mosquito. He couldn't find any frightening aspects other than the sword flying around in mid-air. Just because it flew without being touched didn't make it threatening.

"It's the element of surprise."

"Element of surprise?"

That was a new one for him.

"Yes. Imagine a technique you've only heard about suddenly appearing before your eyes. Wouldn't people be surprised? And it's a technique that has become almost legendary through the endless embellishments of gossipers."

Namgung Sang listened intently.

"But in reality, the technique of sword manipulation isn't very substantial. It's not as threatening as you imagine. It's actually a very inefficient technique. It's wasteful, and it's not as powerful as the effort put into it. However, it does have one powerful weapon."

"What is it?"

"It's the element of surprise I mentioned earlier. And the false reputation that has been accumulated over time. Even if it's a false reputation, as long as the person involved doesn't see through it, it's true. So, you get scared prematurely. Like some.o.n.e. This makes your mind weak. Like some.o.n.e. It becomes rigid. Like a frog in front of a snake. Like some.o.n.e. Then, naturally, openings appear. Your reactions and responses slow down. I can't block it. I can never block it. How can I block such a great technique? When your mind is filled with negativity, everything turns negative. Negative thinking fundamentally blocks all possibilities in your body. That means giving up on possibilities. And do you know what giving up on possibilities means?"

Namgung Sang shook his head.

"It means giving up on the future."

Biryuyeon paused for a moment, perhaps to give him time to ponder, or perhaps because his tongue was simply tired, and then continued. Biryuyeon's words were not yet finished.

"Thinking sword manipulation is powerful is only for novices. It might seem impressive to call it sword manipulation, but its speed cannot match the maximum use of the body's full strength. If the speed decreases, the force applied to it decreases. Wouldn't it fly faster if you added the power of muscle strength to qi alone? You can guess that with simple addition, can't you?"

Namgung Sang suddenly felt like someone who couldn't even do addition.

"Well, it's not all downsides. The advantage of sword manipulation is its ease of operation. That's how you can create an element of surprise. You can thrust the sword from an unexpected angle. But what if you're prepared for that? It might work on amateurs, but a master can defend against that speed. However, it's questionable whether it's necessary to use such a major technique on such amateurs. Major techniques create major flaws. The consumption of qi is also high. Therefore, for an opponent who requires such a major technique, sword manipulation becomes useless, and for those weaker than them, there's no need to exert effort to use this technique. But you are likely seen as an amateur, so he probably thought it was fine to use it. The goal is to pierce that flaw in his thinking."

"The flaw in his thinking…"

Namgung Sang muttered.

"Yes, the strength and weakness of thought. Sword manipulation also preys on the flaws of the mind. That's why it's powerful."

Biryuyeon looked directly into Namgung Sang's eyes. His eyes still reflected his confused mind. Breaking down preconceived notions built up over a long time is never easy and inevitably leads to confusion. But if he couldn't break them, he would never be able to overcome himself or experience a new world. In the end, the one who breaks the eggshell called the world is their own beak.

"Don't forget. The fear that arises in your mind holds you back and leads you to the gates of hell. It's not the greatness of sword manipulation that pierces you, but your mind. And that's the true terror of sword manipulation. However, conversely, there have been quite a few who died foolishly by becoming overconfident and misusing sword manipulation as soon as they could use it."

Although the exact statistics are not known, it is certain that the number is less than ten.

"So don't be fooled by appearances. The splendor of a technique is not a testament to true strength. In that respect, it's sickeningly similar to this world. So don't be intimidated beforehand. If you stay focused, you can block it. And therein lies your victory."

'And my victory, too!'

Biryuyeon said with unwavering confidence, pondering how to gather people and make this match a grand spectacle. Facing that unwavering conviction, Namgung Sang also felt that it might be possible. Biryuyeon did not stop talking.

"Sword manipulation is a very dangerous technique. Not for the one being attacked, but for the one using it, that is, the wielder. Especially when there is more than one enemy. Although it's controlled by qi, it requires immense mental strength. The point is, it requires mental concentration, which naturally makes the physical body sluggish. It's a kind of defenseless state. Then, if there is more than one enemy, as soon as one distracts the sword's gaze, the wielder can be easily eliminated by attacking them. Of course, there are countermeasures in this case."

After a brief pause, Biryuyeon poked Namgung Sang's forehead with his index finger and continued.

"The p.r.o.b.l.e.m. is that you and your friends have not experienced this. Because you haven't experienced it, it's new. Humans inevitably spend some time adapting to new environments. Especially during combat. Why do you think I brought that boring old man?"

Namgung Sang's true feelings were that he really didn't want to know. But there was a tragedy in reality that he would inevitably find out.

"…"

Biryuyeon spoke in a clear voice, as if engraving it into Namgung Sang's soul.

"It's to experience it beforehand. The battle of a true master. Its depth. Its terror. And what kind of sword manipulation unfolds from their hands!"