Just moments ago, Yeon Seo-rin, the Second Young Miss of the Sword Clan and the ‘Seamless Heavenly Robe’, stood before her former master at Wongakjeong. The setting sun cast long shadows behind her as she smiled bitterly.
“Aunt. Are you still afraid to face So-hyeon directly?” she asked, her question blunt and direct.
“Afraid?! Me?!” Yeon Seo-rin’s question startled the Head of the Guard Pavilion, who flushed deeper than the sunset and flared up in anger. “What reason would I have to fear that boy?!”
“Then, why…” Yeon Seo-rin heaved an exaggerated sigh. “Why have you come all this way, only to drag your feet out here on the street instead of entering Wongakjeong?”
“Th-That is…!” the Guard Pavilion Head stammered, flustered by her former disciple’s poignant remark. “That’s…!”
“It’s the Grand Young Master…!”
Shouts erupted from the crowd nearby, and both women instinctively turned their heads toward the commotion.
“I, Grand Young Master Yeon So-hyeon, accept your challenge.”
The white mask, thrown into the air by the Grand Young Master, caught the sunset’s glow. Caught by the wind, it spun high before descending.
Once.
Twice.
With each rotation, it danced, flashing crimson light from the dying sun.
And then, it touched the ground.
“Sword Clan’s Sword Arts, Heart of the Resonating Sword…” Elder Peng’s voice announced the technique, adhering to martial duel formalities. “Drawing Sword Stance – Ultimate Technique!” Elder Peng’s body coiled and twisted, condensing terrifying energy. “Turbulence!”
Despite never crossing the wall, Elder Peng’s sword power, accumulated over a lifetime, was formidable. Something had always been missing.
And as if he had anticipated it perfectly, the Grand Young Master’s lips moved almost simultaneously. “Heart of the Resonating Sword, Drawing Sword Stance. Ultimate Technique, Turbulence.” The same technique name echoed from the Grand Young Master’s lips. The moment his right hand seemed to transform into the Sword Finger Technique,
Zzing-.
Was it a flash of light passing by?
Clearly, Elder Peng’s sword had been drawn first. And it was the exact same technique. Yet, what made contact first was the Grand Young Master’s Sword Finger Technique.
“Ohh…?!”
“I didn’t see it…!”
“Is that the Sword Finger Technique from the rumors?!”
Like the name of the technique, ‘Turbulence,’ the Grand Young Master’s swordsmanship caused a stir among the onlookers.
“Kuh-uk…?!”
Elder Peng let out a groan as the Grand Young Master’s invisible Sword Finger Technique struck his blade, twisting his wrist in an instant. Yet, in that moment, undeniably, a smile graced his wrinkled lips. It was a smile from the past—the smile of a young warrior from the Peng Family, a time when he knew nothing but the sword.
“Striking Sword Stance, Ultimate Technique!”
Elder Peng’s roar was thunderous. His sword and body, having been deflected, spun a full circle on the spot. As he spun, his extended front leg scraped the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
“Biting Wind!”
A single strike that carried the full rebound force received from the Grand Young Master’s terrifying sword blow. He compensated for his throbbing right wrist by gripping the hilt with his left hand as well!
“Haaap—!”
As a shout of exertion burst from Elder Peng’s lips unbidden, a voice reached his ears.
“Striking Sword Stance, Ultimate Technique.”
The Grand Young Master’s voice.
“Biting Wind.”
Would the north wind of winter feel like this as it sliced through flesh?
A fierce storm erupted from the tip of the Grand Young Master’s Sword Finger Technique.
“…Kuh-eup!”
Clearly, the Grand Young Master had unleashed a single strike, just like Elder Peng. However, for some inexplicable reason, an agonizing pain surged through him, as if his entire body was being torn apart. My sword—? His own single strike had vanished, melting away without a trace into that fierce biting wind.
But.
“Not yet—!”
Even as he absorbed the biting wind with his entire being.
“—Not yet, Grand Young Master!”
Elder Peng managed to take a step forward, drawing closer to the Grand Young Master.
“Speed Sword Stance, Ultimate Technique!”
A strange sound, indistinguishable between a scream and a shout, burst from his mouth. His spirit was like that of a ghost or god.
“……!”
The onlookers, momentarily overwhelmed by the pressure, involuntarily took a step back.
“Disastrous Chaotic Dance!”
Did that thrilling spirit transcend realms and reach the Grand Young Master’s heart?
Finally, a smile graced Yeon So-hyeon’s lips as she unleashed her ultimate technique, “Disastrous Chaotic Dance.” The two men stood at the center, their bodies engulfed in a storm of iron rage.
“Hoh…?”
Yeon Seo-rin’s voice, laced with admiration, broke the silence. However, the Guard Pavilion Head’s expression remained unreadable. The sound of swords clashing and the Sword Finger Technique echoing through the air threatened to deafen the audience. Elder Peng’s sword tip clashed with Yeon So-hyeon’s from all directions, creating a dazzling display of light that reflected the setting sun. It seemed as if Elder Peng was burning up the last of his life force.
But then, the Guard Pavilion Head muttered, “Far too lacking.”
Yeon So-hyeon’s continuous concession of the initiative and failure to counterattack ultimately made the duel possible. To her, who had crossed the wall, Elder Peng’s desperate offensive, poured out with his entire being and soul, only seemed technically lacking.
“So-hyeon is being cruel,” the Guard Pavilion Head clicked her tongue. “If he wanted to showcase his martial arts to the public, there would have been far more suitable opponents.”
“Indeed… Is that So-hyeon’s…” At those words, her former disciple, Yeon Seo-rin, spoke in an enigmatic tone. “…intention?”
The Guard Pavilion Head furrowed her brows. “What do you mean?”
From the beginning, Yeon Seo-rin had been watching the duel between the two men without blinking once. She spoke to the Guard Pavilion Head.
“Who can truly know the depths of that rascal So-hyeon’s heart? But…” She shrugged. “At the very least, I don’t think he’s doing this duel for such an obvious reason.”
“Then—“
Whatever the Guard Pavilion Head was about to say was buried by Elder Peng’s shout. “Uooooooo-!” Elder Peng was squeezing it out, wringing out every last drop of his internal energy to continue his wild barrage. The momentum of his sword storm showed no sign of diminishing. However, one cannot maintain a sword strike forever on spirit and grit alone.
“Cough-!”
Had he finally reached the limit of what he could squeeze out?
Elder Peng spewed dark, dead blood from his mouth.
“…It’s over.”
It seemed the Guard Pavilion Head wasn’t the only one who felt that way. Amidst the resounding clash of sword strikes, everyone watched the scene in silence. He had loved the sword. Born into the Peng Family, the first thing he held was a heavy blade. But ultimately, he chose a single sword.
“You want to wield a sword?!”
“Are you not ashamed as a member of the Peng Family?!”
“And a direct descendant at that?!”
With the harsh words of his family and relatives beating against his back, he left his clan.
“You are no longer a member of our Peng Family!”
He was filled with pain and anguish. But in that moment, as he held the sword, he could forget everything. So, he chose the Luoyang Sword Clan.
“Your comprehension is excellent. Your physical foundation is superior, and your senses are superb. However,” the sword master had told him when he entered the Sword Clan as a warrior. “You are not a genius capable of crossing the wall.”
As if rebelling against those words, he swung his sword on snowy days, on days when rain and wind lashed down. He swung his sword under the scorching sun and on nights when frost settled on the ground.
“Incredible.”
But the recognition that returned to him wasn’t as a warrior.
“How about moving into administration?”
For some reason, it was recognition in a direction he hadn’t even put much effort into.
“Congratulations on rising to the position of Elder—. No, felicitations!”
“From now on, we must call you Elder Peng!”
Before he knew it, years had passed, and he had become an elder.
“Elder Peng. Please.”
“You are bringing glory to the name of our Hebei Peng Family.”
The attitude of the Peng Family members, who had once despised him, had completely changed. Even his father, who had cast him out.
“You are the pride of our Peng Family!”
Until the day he died, he had wanted to meet him just one more time, somehow. But.
“Are you swinging a sword from the morning?”
Unlike himself, whose hair had turned white and who had become the head of the Hebei faction.
“Appropriate exercise helps maintain health. I should learn from you, Elder Peng.”
His self as a warrior was still hovering in front of the wall. Just when he thought he had crossed it, the wall still blocked his path. Just when he thought he had passed it, the wall held his ankle like a swamp.
“Is there no way?”
To his desperate question.
“Well…” The master of outstanding skill he had secretly invited trailed off. “Considering your age… crossing the wall at this point is a bit…”
“…Is that so.”
He touched his sweat-stained sword, but the sword never answered.
“Is that so—.”
Now, it was time for Elder Peng to accept the harsh reality of his situation. All his life, he had been enamored with the sword, but it had remained an unrequited love. As he pushed his aging body to the limit, his blood vessels could no longer withstand the strain, and he coughed up blood. The sword, which had been weaving a wild barrage, grew heavy and drooped as if burdened by weights.
Is this it? Elder Peng thought, recalling the Grand Young Master’s single strike in the Council of Elders. His heart, which had been dormant for years, suddenly beat again. But his aged body and lack of talent seemed to prevent him from fulfilling his desire.
Despite his exhaustion, his lungs gasped for air, his muscles screamed in pain, and his vision blurred. Yet, he remained resolute.
“I have no regrets,” he declared, his strength waning as he released the sword. “Not yet.” Amidst the sword wind created by his strikes, only the Grand Young Master’s voice reached Elder Peng’s ears with crystal clarity.
“Not yet, Elder Peng.”
Simultaneously with those words, the Grand Young Master’s Sword Finger Technique, which had been barely visible until then, pierced through the split second and thrust forward abruptly.
“Heup-!” Elder Peng exclaimed, realizing he still had strength left somewhere. How had he managed to see that technique?
Reflexively, his old arm and worn sword struck the Sword Finger Technique away.
“……!” Elder Peng exclaimed, surprised at his own action. Despite himself, he couldn’t help but smile with satisfaction.
Still, it appears I reached the end a bit prematurely…
However, the Grand Young Master’s whisper was not yet complete.
“Why are you content and smiling all by yourself?”
With those words, the Grand Young Master’s sword strikes intensified.
“Heu-eup…!”
Even as his hands and feet failed to move properly, Elder Peng reflexively parried the relentless barrage of sword strikes.
“Not yet.”
The Grand Young Master’s strikes accelerated once more.
Young Master’s strikes accelerated once more.
This is too fa—
“I said, NOT YET!”
A thunderous shout erupted from the Grand Young Master’s mouth.
“Kuh-heup…!”
His heart felt like it would burst out of his mouth. Controlling his breathing was impossible. The qi and blood in his entire body were boiling as if on fire. He couldn’t even tell where his limbs were.
“Uoooaaaaaaaaaaaaaah-!” It was a roaring shout. Elder Peng, thinking that, realized the shout was coming from his own mouth.
“Faster!”
Now, from the Grand Young Master’s Sword Finger Technique, a sword formula unknown even to Elder Peng began to race forth.
Heart of the Resonating Sword – Secret Ultimate Technique. Extreme Five Chaotic Hemp.
“Stronger!”
As if responding to the Grand Young Master’s shout.
“More precise!”
As if responding to the Grand Young Master’s sword formula.
“Guooooooooh-!”
State of Selflessness.
Elder Peng’s sword tip, forgetting even himself, scattered a crimson sword light as if to shatter the setting sun. And he realized in that very moment.
He had crossed the wall (壁).