Book 5 Chapter 15

The finals of the martial arts tournament between Bingbaekbong and Cheongseol Okgeomnyeo.

Are they sword flowers scattered in the sky?

Or sword rain offered to the earth?

Two swords mingled, unleashing unimaginable

Beautiful sword energy.

"Wooaaaaaaah!"

The spectators erupted in ecstatic cheers.

Naye-rin's sword tip, displaying myriad transformations, charged towards Gwanseolji. As expected of a woman who embodied the two ultimate techniques of the Four Great Sword Gods, her sword was filled with sharp spirit and profound mystery. However, the opponent's sword energy was equally formidable. Naye-rin's final opponent was none other than Gwanseolji, known as Cheongseol Okgeomnyeo.

She was also the only daughter of Binggeom Gwancheolsu, one of the Five Great Swordsmen of the World. She possessed a distinctly unusual appearance, which was due to her hair. Uniquely, her hair was a pale, almost light blue color, as if bleached, giving her a very mysterious aura.

Hwasan Ilseonnyeo, Jeong Ha-gyeong, who had aimed for the honor of winning the Sword Empress Tournament, was unfortunately defeated by Gwanseolji's sword in the semifinals.

It was already the finals. Only one obstacle remained to block Naye-rin's sword. This was the final confrontation. Her senior sister, Dokgo Ryeong, did not participate in this tournament in preparation for 'that' event next year. She had to conserve her strength for 'that' next year.

That event, a tournament for the strongest alone, was no easy undertaking. How could a competition to select the representative of the Hundred Schools be anything but difficult? Even with a year of preparation, there would be no room for complacency.

"Baek Roe Nak Hwa!"

Once again, a pure white sword light erupted from Naye-rin's sword. The final bout had long since begun. Indeed, the White Soul Thunder Heavenly Sword Style was immensely powerful. It was a splendid yet fierce sword technique, as if a hundred bolts of lightning struck at once. However, Gwanseolji's sword, facing this, was by no means weak.

From the start of the match until now, she had calmly focused on defense, without ever being put at a disadvantage by Naye-rin's sword strokes, which poured down like flashing arrows. If Naye-rin's sword was an offense, Gwanseolji's sword was a shield.

"Bing Ryeong Su Hon!"

Gwanseolji's sword, imbued with cold ice energy, carried a frigid aura so extreme that it was enough to freeze the body without direct contact, instilling fear. Approaching it felt like falling into an ice cave. Naye-rin could not rashly advance.

However, no matter how cold the ice cave, victory was impossible without penetrating it. Naye-rin, paying respect to her opponent's sword skills, swung her sword with all her might.

"Seom Roe Gwan Il!"

Bingbaekbong Naye-rin's swordplay today was fast, strong, and fierce, contrary to her epithet. Every time she unleashed her sword, a subtle thunderclap echoed, and it felt as if lightning flashed. Fierce sword strokes, like lightning striking the ground, continuously emanated from her sword tip. Each one was nothing short of a supreme technique. Gwanseolji's swordplay, in response, also lacked any ordinary moves, matching the level.

The fact that such high-level and powerful sword energies colliding in one place had not yet easily decided the outcome was likely due to the harmonizing of their sword energies, like yin and yang. One was a sword of offense, the other a sword of defense! An offense and a shield! Because of this, the match was not quickly decided, and the contest remained unresolved for over a hundred moves.

"Truly, she who inherited the legacies of the Sword Empress and the Alliance Leader. To wield such ultimate sword mastery in the body of a woman. Every move she executes is filled with profound energy."

It was no wonder the old masters seated in the judges' seats continuously exclaimed in admiration. Naye-rin's martial prowess was strong enough to overwhelm men, and she exuded an incomparable noble grace as she wielded it. Cheongseol Okgeomnyeo Gwanseolji was no different.

The duel between these two was as beautiful and enchanting as celestial goddesses wielding swords and dancing sword dances. The beautiful figures emanating from the sword dances of the two women were so captivating that even the killing intent imbued in their swords seemed to melt away and be forgotten.

It was no wonder that not only men but also women were mesmerized.

"Be careful!"

It was Naye-rin who cried out, unleashing sword energy. She even gave a warning before executing a sword stroke.

White Soul Thunder Heavenly Sword Style, Profound Art, Cham Cheon Mu Roe.

Finally, the ultimate sword stroke erupted from Naye-rin's sword tip. It was a powerful sword strike, a level above anything she had displayed so far. It had the momentum of thunder that seemed to tear the sky. The powerful sword energy emanating from the body of a woman, so elegantly and slender, was utterly unbelievable. A light flashed in Gwanseolji's eyes. Her will to not lose was evident in her gaze.

Ice Spirit Water Flow Sword, Sword Cold Qi, Profound Art, Twenty-Fourth Form, Han Bing Bi!

Naye-rin's sword extended mercilessly like lightning tearing the sky, and in response, Gwanseolji's sword tip split into dozens of branches, emitting ice energy. Naye-rin felt as if she were facing a massive ice wall. It felt as if cold ice swords were erupting from all directions, building an ice wall before Gwanseolji's body.

As the ultimate moves of two great sword techniques collided, the momentum was quite formidable. It was the sword cold energy inherited from her father by Gwanseolji. Even though it was not yet perfected, its power was astounding. Naye-rin's sword stroke had not yet broken through the cold sword net she had cast.

It was a defense that could rightly be called an iron wall. In fact, in terms of defense, the secret sword technique of Binggeom Gwancheolsu, the Ice Spirit Water Flow Sword, which she was currently displaying, showed superior harmony compared to any other sword technique.

It was a sword technique created primarily for defense, alongside the Flame Dynasty's True Red Seventeen Flames, which was created with attack and destructive power in mind. It contained the marvelous ability to defend the body, cold and firm like a ten-thousand-year ice wall. It was one of the strongest defensive sword techniques.

The Ice Spirit Water Flow Sword, passed down from her father Binggeom Gwancheolsu, was a unique sword technique that broke down opponents through defense. It possessed a martial principle opposite to the Flame Dynasty's sword arts, which crushed everything with destructive power beyond limits.

The cold ice energy that bloomed from the sword tips and flowed over the swords would gradually paralyze the opponent's nerves without them realizing it. If one continued to launch reckless attacks without noticing their movements becoming sluggish, they would easily fall victim to attacks like water flowing secretly beneath thick ice in winter. It was a fearsome martial art that slowly eroded the opponent's body and nerves.

"Wow! So much to see!"

People were so engrossed that their eyes spun. The fierce battle between the two beauties, moving gracefully like butterflies and sometimes swiftly like swallows, was so spectacular and rich with visual appeal that it made one's mouth water just to watch.

Their sword energies were as outstanding as their beauty, further illuminating the martial arts stage, so it was only natural that men would risk their lives for them.

Naye-rin was not the only one with followers. There existed differences in taste in the world, and a considerable number of people followed Cheongseol Okgeomnyeo Gwanseolji.

Naye-rin, in her own way, and Gwanseolji, in her own way, each possessed her own individuality and beauty. Moreover, their martial arts were so astonishing that it was difficult to easily determine who was superior.

Naye-rin, uncharacteristically, was surprised twice today. Once by Gwanseolji's sword energy, which perfectly blocked her sword and possessed an eerie, extreme coldness, and a second time by the profoundness of the sword technique that neutralized half the power of her Dragon Eyes. It felt as if her sword energy was being sucked into the net she had cast.

For Naye-rin, who had long been unrivaled, this was a worthy opponent she had encountered in a long time. She had to acknowledge Gwanseolji's superiority in her heart. The sword technique, which was like an iron wall yet hid sharp thorns, flustered Naye-rin.

She did not want to use it, but the ability of her Dragon Eyes was naturally employed. Without the Hanseong Okryeong Shin Sword, she might have lost. Furthermore, her opponent had not yet exerted her full strength. It was possible that both were intentionally holding back slightly at the sword's tip.

Even though she possessed Dragon Eyes, their ability was not absolute. In fact, Dragon Eyes were strong at discerning an opponent's attacks but weak at reading defensive maneuvers. In other words, when she was in an offensive stance, they only exerted about half their original power. Defense, by nature, was passive and changed constantly in response to attacks. The most effective display of their ability was to capture the moment when the situation shifted from defense to offense.

However, Gwanseolji's sword was a sword of defense, not offense. Moreover, it was a sword technique with unparalleled depth in defensive sword arts. In particular, the sword net she displayed was cold, firm, and thick like a ten-thousand-year ice wall. There was no visible gap to penetrate. Dealing with this type of sword technique was a new experience for her.

Gwanseolji was likewise. While she had heard of the rumors, Naye-rin's sword energy, experienced firsthand, was unexpectedly astonishing. Wasn't this almost beyond the level of the martial arts masters? Furthermore, she knew. She knew that Naye-rin had sword techniques that were still sealed and unused!

Yes, there were sword techniques Naye-rin was not using. From the beginning, she had been wielding the aggressive, rigid sword style, White Soul Thunder Heavenly Sword Style, which did not suit her body well. As far as she knew, that was not Naye-rin's true sword technique.

The sword energy inherited from the Sword Empress, the foremost swordswoman of her generation, Lee Ok-sang!

The Hanseong Okryeong Shin Sword!

The sword technique that one who inherited the legacy of the Sword Empress should naturally possess had never been displayed by her hand.

"Why don't you use it? That sword technique?"

Gwanseolji asked, pausing for breath, with curiosity.

Unlike most men, who would become angry and rage, saying things like 'Why aren't you using it!', 'Are you looking down on me!', 'Let's fight to the death today!', she was different.

"I am sorry. I cannot use it recklessly without permission."

Naye-rin bowed her head slightly, expressing her apology. She felt a brief sense of regret. It was possible to give the impression of looking down on her opponent. However, she was not looking down on her at all. Rather, she was nervous. But she was restraining herself because she could not use her sect's supreme techniques without permission.

The sword technique she was currently using, although not suited to a woman's body, was the secret technique of Naye-gwancheon, the leader of the Martial Alliance, one of the Four Great Sword Gods. Its origin would not disappear.

"That's a shame! But if it's the sect's rule, there's nothing we can do. We'll have to postpone it to another time… Shall we try again then?"

Gwanseolji exclaimed with a bright smile. It was fortunate that her personality was not like her father's, who was as cold as an ice pick. Once again, the swords of the celestial goddesses intertwined and harmonized.

"This way, there won't be a winner…"

From Bi Ryuyeon's perspective, it seemed unlikely that a winner would be decided easily. Moreover, neither of them seemed to have a strong desire to win. There was no fighting spirit whatsoever. The two of them looked like people engaging in friendly sparring or martial arts exchange.

"Wow! Looking at their sword techniques makes me feel so ashamed of what these men have been doing these days!"

Hyo Ryong, who was watching with Bi Ryuyeon, was also exclaiming in astonishment. Their swordsmanship skills were so outstanding that they could look down on men in droves, making many men feel ashamed of their own accomplishments.

"What else can we do but train as hard as we can!"

Bi Ryuyeon uttered a casual remark. The match was unfolding exactly as Bi Ryuyeon had predicted. If it continued like this, there was only one conclusion.

As the match continued for over 300 moves without a winner, a murmuring could be heard from the judges' seats, and the right hand of Hyeonhak Jin-in, the former elder of the Wudang sect and an elder of the Cheonmu Academy, was raised. Then, the referee, holding up two flags in both hands, declared. Bi Ryuyeon's prediction had come true.

"Cease!"

The judges, sensing that a conclusion could not be reached in this manner, declared a draw. It was deemed better to stop them before they became too endangered. The fact that neither side used their ultimate moves after over 300 moves was interpreted as an indication that they themselves had no intention of forcing a victory. If they had been men, they might have fought to the bitter end, even if blood and flesh were spilled.

As soon as the signal to stop was given, the two stopped their swords as if they had been waiting, and returned to their original positions facing each other.

"Hehehe! The appearance of two such phoenixes is a great joy for Cheonmu Academy and a blessing for the martial arts world! The five old masters, including myself, have reached a consensus that it is impossible to determine a superior between the two young ladies. Therefore, we have regretfully decided to declare it a draw."

Hyeonhak Jin-in, representing the judges' seats, stood up and said with a generous smile. Neither of them expressed any dissatisfaction. If it continued like this, it would be impossible to decide a winner unless they were willing to risk their lives.

"Waaaaaaah!"

A roar that seemed to shake the entire venue erupted. The reaction was that it was even better that neither of the two beauties suffered a defeat.

A draw! It was a match that remained undecided.

A moment later, Cheongseol Okgeomnyeo Gwanseolji, descending from the martial arts stage amidst the cheers of the surrounding crowd, was startled by a sudden development.

A colossal man suddenly appeared and grabbed her slender shoulders. It happened so abruptly that she had no time to react.

"So-un!"

The colossal man who had grabbed her shoulder uttered the name as if shouting.

She also seemed very surprised at first, but then she regained her composure. She knew who the person before her was. Red hair, red beard, red eyebrows! There was probably only one person in the martial arts world with such an unusual appearance. That was none other than Yeomdo (Flame Blade).

Gwanseolji was not the only one surprised. Her followers, who were watching from the side, were also taken aback. Especially Cheong Heun, who was watching from a distance, was more surprised than anyone else.

Cheong Heun, who was about to blurt out, 'What are you doing?', closed his mouth upon seeing the opponent's face. This was not someone he could carelessly raise his voice at. However, he still had to remove the hand that was gripping her shoulder so tightly that it looked painful even from the side.

Just then, someone solved Cheong Heun's dilemma in an instant.

"Slash!"

Bi Ryuyeon, who had been watching from the side, did something astonishing without hesitation. Bi Ryuyeon struck Yeomdo's wrist with the full force of his hand-chop.

Yeomdo's head snapped towards Bi Ryuyeon.

The original meaning was 'Do you want to die?', but that meaning did not apply to Bi Ryuyeon.

"What are you doing? You suddenly shoved that ferocious face in front of the young lady's nose, startling her! It's a miracle she didn't faint!"

Bi Ryuyeon's words, mercilessly criticizing Yeomdo's mistake. Those watching were so shocked their hearts felt like they would leap out of their throats. Who dared to speak to the great Yeomdo in such an impertinent (albeit correct) manner? Everyone watching thought Yeomdo would instantly tear Bi Ryuyeon's tongue out and twist his head off. But Yeomdo removed his hand from Gwanseolji's shoulder without a word to Bi Ryuyeon. It was a mysterious event.

Yeomdo realized his mistake and quickly stepped back. However, even in doing so, his gaze did not leave her for a moment. How could he not be shaken when the woman he had never forgotten appeared before him, 20 years later?

Gwanseolji's beauty was outstanding, perhaps inherited from her mother. Her skin was like dazzling white jade, and her eyes were reminiscent of the black pearls of the deep sea. Uniquely, her hair color was a light, bleached blue. It was likely a sign of her martial arts, inherited from her father, being cultivated. Yeomdo's heart ached as if pierced.

"What is your mother's name?"

Yeomdo asked in a trembling voice. This was an uncharacteristic behavior for him.

"Her name is Hyeok (赫), So (巢) surname, Un (雲) given name!"

The answer was as expected. Although he had braced himself, a shock as if struck by a blunt weapon to the back of his head washed over him. He had somewhat anticipated it, but hearing it confirmed directly from her lips, the shock was immeasurable.

For a moment, his head felt dizzy and confused. It felt as if the sky and earth were impudently swapping places without permission.

"I see! Are you So-un's daughter?"

His voice sounded dejected. Was the drooping of his shoulders just an optical illusion? He looked so unlike his usual self, so melancholic.

Yeomdo's gaze, which had been looking up at the sky, turned back to Gwanseolji.

"Is your mother in good health?"

Looking at his eyes, which held memories that seemed to flicker, unlike his appearance reminiscent of a red demon, Yeomdo seemed pathetic.

"Yes! She is still robust."

"Is that so…"

After managing to hear just one word, Yeomdo fell silent again, sinking into silence. His demeanor was so uncharacteristic of Yeomdo that it was frustrating to watch.

'Hmm…'

With eyes full of interest, Bi Ryuyeon's gaze shifted between Yeomdo and Gwanseolji. What could be the reason? Although he was the type who couldn't stand not knowing what he was curious about, he thought now was not the time.

"Come, come! Let's not dwell on this and hurry to watch Hui's semifinal match. Although he looks so cold, he might be unexpectedly prone to loneliness!"

Of course, it was a baseless story. But for a story intended to break the ice, whether it was grounded or not was irrelevant. Yeomdo's shoulders seemed heavy as he moved. And as if to prove that he was a person completely unrelated to loneliness, Mo Yong-hwi effortlessly defeated his semifinal opponent and advanced to the finals. Finally, the much-anticipated match against Cheong Heun, the Three-Beat Sword, was just around the corner.