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Chapter 24
After sending his younger sibling back down, Mujin continued chopping wood. Once he had piled it high on the carrying rack like a small mountain, he slowly made his way down.
On the road toward Songho Sect, people came into view.
Villagers greeted him warmly, striking up conversation, and Mujin too enjoyed these simple exchanges with genuine delight.
Before his return, such a scene would have been unimaginable. The villagers had once feared and avoided him. His past, where he would flare up in anger over the smallest things and constantly nitpick just to find fault, now felt deeply shameful.
‘I was so immature.’
— Still looks like you haven’t grown up. If this is what you call maturity, then how did you even live before?
‘I’ve told you a thousand times. I’m better than you. At least I wasn’t some puppet without any sense of self, so who are you to call me immature!’
— I didn’t have a choice. You, on the other hand, acted of your own will. Who are you to mock anyone?
‘Stop picking fights and just circulate my internal energy.’
— Damn it. What am I, your internal-energy-turning slave?!
‘If you’re bored, refine your sorcery a little too. Don’t you want revenge on those bastards?’
— Mark my words, you’ll regret this later.
Even quarrels with Cheon-gyeong had become routine by now. That guy only acted docile when it served to flatter himself; otherwise, he was always itching to stir trouble. If Mujin hadn’t embraced a pacifist mindset after his return, they’d probably have been at each other’s throats every day.
Huh?
Just as he neared the sect grounds, he sensed a familiar presence.
The figure soon appeared, and she spoke first.
“It’s been a while.”
“Were you waiting for me?”
“Yes.”
“You could have waited inside.”
“I don’t like waiting while sitting still.”
What a peculiar woman. She must have wandered around the sect’s outskirts while waiting for him. She had a personality that drew sharp lines—always cautious about owing anyone favors. Even during her days as the Sword Queen, her uncompromisingly clear boundaries had earned her no small number of enemies.
Her reason for coming was obvious.
Mujin didn’t waste time on lengthy introductions either. Still, he thought there was no harm in giving her the chance—an experience worth having at least once. She was currently at a plateau in her cultivation. Though she would eventually overcome it, she was probably searching for a way to hasten the process.
The problem was, it offered him no benefit whatsoever. The gap between them was simply too wide. Better to approach it in a way that could be mutually beneficial.
“Why not rest tonight and spar tomorrow morning?”
“Can’t we do it right now?”
“I’d rather fight after eating, sleeping, and being in the best condition. Of course, I know. You can’t always face battles at your peak. But this is a sparring match, isn’t it?”
“…Fine.”
For Lee Seojeong, this was an unusual experience. Ever since she had stepped into the martial world, she had never met a man who led the conversation in this way. He wasn’t evasive or servile, but calling him humble didn’t quite fit either.
‘I don’t get him.’
She was born with extraordinary perception. With a single glance, she could usually discern her opponent’s qualities. Yet with this man, her instincts gave her nothing. Perhaps that was precisely why she had come here.
— Her meticulous nature hasn’t changed one bit.
‘What, praising yourself again?’
— She once defeated the Black-White Demon Sword. That’s when I had to step in.
‘Oh? That’s impressive.’
The Black-White Demon Sword was a master representing the Demonic Cult. His signature technique, the Dark Heaven Demon Blood Sword, had claimed the lives of hundreds of high-level martial artists. His infamy spread far before the Demonic King made his official move. To have slain him was no ordinary feat.
‘That couldn’t have been easy. Ah, so that’s when she obtained the Ice Crystal.’
— That’s right.
It was after obtaining the Ice Crystal that the Sword Queen’s path took a dramatic leap forward. She had already been steadily building her reputation, but absorbing the Ice Crystal elevated her to another level entirely.
“Let’s not linger out here. Come inside. There are spare rooms, so you won’t need to worry about lodging. We can share a meal too.”
“…Is that really alright?”
“Of course.”
“Then, pardon my intrusion.”
Mujin led Lee Seojeong into the sect. There was some commotion—after all, Lee Seojeong was a striking beauty. Even with her slightly cold demeanor, she was among the most dazzling women on the continent.
On the other hand, some people cast worried glances, fearing that Mujin might be reverting to his old ways. But Mujin accepted the consequences of his past and explained the situation to his family.
‘Oh ho. That guy…’
There was a man who couldn’t take his eyes off her. Mujin’s lips curved into a thin, knowing smile.
That night, over drinks, he called his younger brother aside.
The next morning, Mujin and Lee Seojeong headed into the mountains together.
Cutting wood in the morning was routine for Mujin, so he didn’t pay it much mind. Especially since Lee Seojeong’s reputation preceded her.
Before she was known as the Young Sword Queen, she had been called Cold-Blooded Sword. Unless someone had nerves of steel, they wouldn’t even dare approach her. To think that Mujin was on such familiar terms with her seemed strange to many.
Halfway up the mountain, at the path leading deeper into the forest, an unexpected figure was already waiting. Mujin asked in a deliberately casual tone:
“What are you doing here?”
“Hyung, don’t you think this is enough?”
“Enough of what?”
“You said you’d give it your all.”
“A sparring match is about giving your all. That’s the proper way, isn’t it?”
“Well, yes, but… It’s just… that’s not what I mean.”
Mu-ho looked frustrated.
It was hard to outright deny. Lee Seojeong was staring right at him. And if his brother really fought at full strength in this situation, the outcome was all too clear.
He recalled what they had spoken about over drinks the night before.
— So what did she come here for?
— She said she wanted to spar.
— With you?
— Yes. She wants to see my strength, so I’ll show her. Make sure she never dares climb back up again.
— Is that really necessary?
— Young sprouts must be stomped down thoroughly if they are to grow strong. Just like you.
After hearing those words, Mu-ho couldn’t bear to stay in the clan compound any longer. He already knew the location of the sparring grounds, so there was no issue. Rising at dawn, he went ahead and waited there for his older brother and Lee Seojeong.
No matter how he thought about it, this sparring match wasn’t right. It might help her, but to recover from the mental shock would require time. Those who haven’t experienced it would never understand. And this wasn’t even a man—it was a woman.
— But she’s still a woman.
— If martial artists are going to discriminate by gender or age, they might as well retire to the mountains. And besides, she hates being underestimated. Haven’t you heard the rumors? What if she holds a grudge later, saying you went easy on her?
Yes, that wasn’t wrong.
Sometimes, the elderly, women, and children were the most frightening opponents. Even if you tried not to, unconsciously, you let your guard down. That’s why in the martial world there’s a saying: the weaker they look, the more cautious you should be.
“Why are you acting like this today? You look like a frostbitten dog—awkward and fidgeting without dignity.”
“A sparring match is supposed to test each other’s skills. Even if it’s said to be like real combat, it can’t truly be the same.”
“Since when does the Sword Without Mercy ramble on with such long prefaces? Is there another reason? Perhaps…”
Sword Without Mercy, together with Cold-Blooded Sword?
At least the name sounded impressive.
“…Absolutely not.”
“How did you know what I was going to ask?”
“What were you going to ask?”
“Oh my, I forgot while thinking of something else. I’ll tell you when I remember. For now, step aside.”
“Wait!”
Mu-ho couldn’t think of any way to stop them. He wouldn’t have gone this far with anyone else, but this was his brother. Lee Seojeong might be as lofty as a celestial fairy, seemingly unshakable even if the sky fell, but if she suffered defeat at his brother’s hands, it would be nearly impossible for her to recover. Imagining that was unbearable.
‘Was my brother always like this?’
Seeing his younger sibling’s frantic behavior, Mujin clicked his tongue. His nickname, Sword Without Mercy, felt hollow in this moment. His desperation was written all over his face, with not even a shred of composure.
This can’t be stopped now.
Mujin actually found his brother’s flustered state cute, so much so that he felt tempted to prolong it. If Lee Seojeong hadn’t stepped in, the warm exchange between brothers might have dragged on.
“Do you have some other business here?”
“Ah, well…”
“If not, please step back.”
“It’s not that I don’t, but…”
“But it’s not really that you do, either.”
“Well, that’s true, but still…”
Mu-ho was left floundering by her blunt words. Yet if he simply backed down now, the woman he admired would end up disgraced and broken. The problem was, he wanted to stop this, but he had no justification. Once you had drawn your sword, you could not be spared just because you were a woman. If that was the case, you shouldn’t have picked up the sword in the first place.
To hell with it.
If things had come this far, then so be it.
“I wish to challenge this young lady!”
“That’s… surprising. But my challenge came first.”
“Please! I must cross swords with you!”
“Respect the order!”
Lee Seojeong’s expression barely changed, but her eyes turned a shade colder. His reckless demand for a spar showed irresponsibility, and worse, it was also an insult to his brother.
Even as he spoke, regret welled up inside Mu-ho. He shouldn’t have said it, but desperation had driven him to blurt it out. Worse still, she was right.
Then—
“Young lady. If you accept my younger brother’s request, I will provide you with a small favor in the future.”
“Even though this isn’t reasonable?”
“I know it is a rude request. But as his brother, I cannot refuse the plea of my one and only sibling.”
“…Very well. But know this—I will demand payment for this discourtesy.”
Lee Seojeong, out of respect for the brothers’ bond, decided to accept. Whether she sparred one first or the other made no real difference. Still, it left a bitter taste. What she had looked upon favorably now felt tainted.
— Do well.
Damn it!
At Mujin’s voice transmission, Mu-ho let out a deep sigh. This man had been toying with him all along, fully aware of everything. Even inviting him for a sudden drink the night before had been part of the plan. Now there was no escape. Having already left a poor impression, the only way left was to fight with all he had to redeem himself.
Not bad at all.
Mujin sat down on his favorite tree stump to watch.
Lee Seojeong and Mu-ho faced each other.
Lee Seojeong held a faint edge of sharpness in her gaze. Having her turn disrupted wasn’t something she took lightly. But the moment she saw Mu-ho draw his sword, her mind changed.
‘He’s strong.’
The sensation traveling through his sword exceeded expectations. It was an unfamiliar energy, something even she hadn’t often encountered. Among those her age, she had never met a swordsman of this caliber.
Srrring!
She drew the Ice Dragon Sword, a treasured blade bestowed upon her by her master. Since she knew she couldn’t take this lightly, she cast aside her irritation. Entertaining stray thoughts against such an opponent would be unworthy of a martial artist.
‘Hmm. She surpasses her reputation.’
There were rumors about the Young Sword Queen Lee Seojeong. That beneath her beautiful appearance lay a merciless blade that showed no compassion to evildoers.
“I won’t yield the first move.”
“I wouldn’t want you to.”
For the first time, Lee Seojeong and Mu-ho were of one mind. Without words, but with their swords, they acknowledged one another.
After the clash of their wills, their swords erupted into motion.
---The End Of The Chapter---
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