Chapter 83 - Sword Dance (1)

1

The Heart Sword.

So Baekhyang began groping toward that realm only after one winter had repeated itself again and again, until so much time had passed that she could no longer remember its temperature.

The sword of the heart.

So Baekhyang began glimpsing that realm in the season when she was no longer called the Fragrance of Snow, but instead the Heavenly Demon—the heaven of demons.

"... I can see it..."

The woman who had been So Baekhyang, who had become the Heavenly Demon, murmured.

"... There lies a realm no one in the martial world has ever reached..."

"... It looks as distant as the other shore..."

"... But if I can see it, what place could be beyond my reach...?"

The Heavenly Demon's heart throbbed.

The Heart Sword was a realm known only through legends. The heart itself is the killing. Harbor the intent to kill, merely hold murderous intent in the heart, and the target dies at once. No sword is needed. No words are needed. At last, that realm lay before her eyes.

"... Heavenly Demon..."

If.

"... Our supreme sovereign..."

If she were given time.

If she were given sixty years to devote herself solely to training.

If only that were truly possible.

"... Please redress this injustice..."

The common people prostrated themselves before her.

"... The authorities demand marten pelts as taxes. My father went out to hunt martens and never returned, so we cannot pay. But they levy the tax for every head in the family. My grandmother said she had little time left to live anyway, and that we should reduce the tax by having her disappear..."

"... Heavenly Demon..."

So many backs were bowed before her.

"... There was a drought last year, and this year too, and we have nothing to eat. We have eaten nothing, yet orders came to build reservoirs and embankments. They say it is to prevent next year's drought, but how are we to lift and pile rocks when we have eaten nothing...?"

"... My daughter was taken away and has not returned..."

"... Heavenly Demon..."

So very many.

Silently, the Heavenly Demon looked up at the snowy mountain.

Years devoted solely to training. Given just sixty years to spare, she would reach a realm no one in the history of the martial world had ever attained. That was an undeniable fact, beyond dispute. But. Even so.

"... Lead the way..."

The Heavenly Demon rose with her sword. Her ink-black robes fluttered.

"... There are so very many things I must cut down..."

Would she abandon the world? Or abandon herself?

The Heavenly Demon simply abandoned her own desires.

To relinquish the desire for martial attainment, and become free of desire.

That had always been her life.

That day, too, you cut down those who had frozen the world.

But you could not cut down winter.

2

"Ordinarily..."

The attendant spirit knelt.

"For a martial artist to duel through another person's mouth is absurd. No discourtesy could be greater. As an act of disrespect, it would go down in the history of the martial world as a laughingstock."

"..."

I had never seen the attendant spirit assume this posture before. He sat respectfully in the snow. I realized it was his own form of etiquette, reserved for opponents he acknowledged as [worthy rivals].

"But even knowing I will be a laughingstock, I have no choice but to request a duel."

The Sword Emperor looked straight at Master.

"My epithet is the Sword Emperor. In the world called the World of Ten Thousand Swords, I was acknowledged as the greatest under heaven. At the risk of offending you, I request a verbal sword duel."

Then he bowed his head.

"..."

"My disciple?"

Master blinked.

"Why do you not announce your move? The duel has already begun."

Of course, Master could not see the attendant spirit. She could not hear his words. She could not see his courtesy.

"... Master."

"What is it?"

"You must have realized I use strange sorcery."

"Do you mean the sorcery that restored my children and the living corpses of the orthodox factions?"

Master chuckled.

Her laugh was so faint it seemed ready to vanish at any moment.

"I have decided to ask you nothing. Silence is a virtue. I merely choose to think you a messenger sent by the Jade Emperor out of pity for me."

Master smiled with her head resting on my thigh. Whenever she laughed, her head moved a little. In that movement, I felt how light her body had become.

"... There is another kind of sorcery I can use."

Master had little time left. I had to be as brief as possible.

"Among my arts is one that summons ghosts."

"Hmm?"

"The ghost beside me now happens to be deeply versed in martial arts. Beyond the borders, he was called the greatest under heaven."

"Aha, the greatest martial artist beyond the borders! How impressive."

Master giggled. She seemed to think it was an amusing joke.

"Very well. If my disciple has summoned the ghost of the greatest under heaven, I ought to give him some attention. I gladly acknowledge him as my opponent in this verbal sword duel."

"..."

I looked at the attendant spirit.

He sat upright in silence.

"Well, what move does the ghost of the greatest under heaven intend to show me?"

"... He says he will yield the opening to you, Master."

"Hmm?"

"He said he would give you the first three moves."

Some of the amusement left Master's face.

"How arrogant. My disciple would never say such a thing. Clearly, this is a ghost who knows not his place. I shall pierce the Water Moon point with Swift Emerging Dragon Sword, the fifth form of the Twelve Cloud Dragon Swords."

The first move.

"I use Dragon Moving Beneath the Setting Sun, the sixth form of the Earth Dragon Staff Dance, as a feint, then retreat one step with the Drifting Cloud Movement Art."

The attendant spirit answered without the slightest hesitation.

I did not know what the [Twelve Cloud Dragon Swords] or the [Earth Dragon Staff Dance] were. The Divine Art of the Demonic Heaven was all I knew. I simply relayed their battle in an even voice.

"I use Dragon Moving Beneath the Setting Sun, the sixth form of the Earth Dragon Staff Dance, as a feint, then retreat one step with the Drifting Cloud Movement Art."

"Hmm..."

Master furrowed her brow.

"I shall send you flying with Eagle Strikes the Crown Kick, the seventh form of the Profound Void Supreme Ultimate Art."

"I feint with Twin Hands Lashing the Ground, the second form of the Sixfold Killing Fist, and evade with Iron Plank Bridge."

Master's elegant brows drew a little closer together.

"I attack with Heavenly Cat's Sixfold Rhythmic Strike, the sixth form of the Six Nimble Cat Swords."

"I execute Mandarin Duck Kick. Then retreat with Scattered Plum Blossom Steps."

"..."

The three moves ended in an instant.

I could not tell what exchanges had taken place between them.

All I knew was that Master had fallen silent.

"You..."

The attendant spirit spoke evenly.

"I can roughly imagine how you lived. Once you became the greatest of all time, you must have devoted yourself to the Cult's affairs, with no time to focus on training. You could see the Life-and-Death realm, but you never went there. Why? Because you were busy. Twenty-four hours a day weren't enough just to look after the Cult. You were already busy caring for your family, your people in the Cult. Where would you find time to waste on training?"

"But," the attendant spirit said.

"Do you know what's most unfair?"

The corners of his mouth twisted.

"That even so, you're still the greatest of all time."

That there was no reason to aim any higher.

"Why? Because you're already at the summit. You live comfortably, everyone acknowledges you. There's no need to make an effort. You yourself are, quite literally, heaven."

"..."

"You poor thing. Your misfortune was being the unrivaled strongest in this Murim."

The attendant spirit folded his arms.

"I will show you what a heaven beyond heaven is."

I did not relay those words.

I felt there was no need to.

"Hmm."

Master slowly lifted her head. She leaned her lightened body against mine a little, then sat upright in the snow.

"You are no common nobody."

Heavenly Demon.

Origin: Chronicles of the Heavenly Demon.

Greatest of all time.

Demonic Cult.

"Of course not. Who do you think I am?"

Sword Emperor.

Origin: World of Ten Thousand Swords.

Greatest under heaven.

Orthodox factions.

"Good. I will not go easy on you either."

"Come at me all you like."

Duel.

Begin.

3

"I strike upward at your chin with Explosive Flame Ascension, the first form of the Fire-Blood Flame Dragon."

"What's this sudden imitation of the orthodox style? Matching the momentum of your rising strike, I execute the first form of the Eight Great Cloud Dragon Forms twice in succession. Once at the ground, once at your rising fist."

One move.

"I change Explosive Flame Ascension into Fierce Slaying of Scholars, the third form of the Assassination Blade, and pierce the Bubbling Spring point to kill that momentum."

"Oh, nicely done. What should I do? Counter, or... Good. I'll mix in the principles of Life and Death by Decree and meet you with Bay Waves Embracing Butterflies."

Another move.

"..."

The longer the verbal sword duel continued, the more breathless Master became.

In winter, her white breath grew whiter still.

She curled her left hand tightly around her knee. With her right, she gripped my hand. She was trembling. Through her hand, that trembling reached me.

"... How long do you intend to keep that filthy foot on my fingers? I shall tear it apart with Burning Leech Jawplate, the second form of the Three Kinds of Demonic Leeches."

"I only obliged when you invited me in. What a temper. I immediately withdraw my foot and perform Lazy Donkey Rolls in midair, simultaneously using Roaring Life and Death, the fourth form of the Divine Chariot's Great Revolution, to target three points on your right side at once: Great Bone, Yang Valley, and Soul Gate."

"I retreat three steps with Heavenly Demon's Sovereign Step!"

Master was delighted.

"Since you imitated the orthodox style, shall I imitate the demonic path? I follow you, answering with Embracing Sword of Death by Freezing."

Yes.

The Murim Alliance Leader, the Axe Immortal, had never truly been Master's [equal].

Without question, the Alliance Leader was the strongest in this world's orthodox Murim. He alone could put up a fight against her. But hadn't the final Great War Between Orthodox and Demonic Forces proved it? When both poured all their strength into a confrontation, Master was the one who won in the end.

A contest with a predetermined ending.

Perhaps that was why Master had put off settling the Great War Between Orthodox and Demonic Forces until their 990th bout.

Like a child licking a sweet as sparingly as possible, knowing it would eventually melt away.

「I'm sorry.」

That was why, in the run that had reached a bad ending, the Murim Alliance Leader had told Master:

「I'm sorry I'm weaker than you.」

「I was the weaker one.」

「Kill me.」

I squeezed tightly.

Without realizing it, I had tightened my grip.

"Foolishness! I strike the Man's Welcome point with the second form of the Assassination Blade!"

"Not a chance. I evade with Iron Plank Bridge, and simultaneously, this time I'm the one using Explosive Flame Ascension."

"Aha."

At last, Master broke into a smile. It was not a sad smile, nor one fading fleetingly away. It carried every beat of her heart, radiating a ruddy warmth.

"My disciple, this ghost you've summoned is superb!"

"... Yes."

Now I could fully understand how the Murim Alliance Leader had felt.

"He's probably the strongest person I know."

"Where have you been hiding this ghost, to introduce him only now?"

It stung a little.

"Never in my life have I met a martial artist this powerful!"

No.

It stung a great deal.

"I mix in the principles of Heaven Upon Heaven Martial Art, twisting my arm to kill your momentum. Then I retreat four steps with Heavenly Demon's Sovereign Step!"

"Oh dear, you already retreated three steps, and now another four? I suppose I can take that as a sign you're starting to tuck your tail. I follow with the Drifting Cloud Movement Art from one step away, then Summer's Height Torrential Rain. I imbue it with sword force."

"Aha! Summer's Height Torrential Rain with sword force! You mean you've tired of probing me. Very well. I draw it in and deflect it with Numbing Sword of Death by Thirst, then immediately reverse my grip and use forms one through three of Dragon Boring Beneath the Sand, striking Heaven's Pillar, Great Push, and Body Pillar in turn!"

I... could not understand the duel they were conducting.

I could not even picture their confrontation in my mind.

I understood Numbing Sword of Death by Thirst. But I did not know what [Dragon Boring Beneath the Sand] was. I knew what Lazy Donkey Rolls was. But I did not know what posture [Roaring Life and Death of the Divine Chariot's Great Revolution] involved.

There was so much I did not know that even groping toward a sketch of their movements was beyond me.

I simply could not see the paths of their swords, their sword dance.

"That's more like it. Good! I combine Butterfly-Brimming Sword with Life and Death by Decree to evade, then step back and use Supreme Ultimate Heaven-Swelling Sword!"

"Not bad. Not bad at all!"

Ah.

If I could, I wanted to be your worthy rival.

If I could, I wanted all your hopes to belong to me alone.

I wanted you to spend the last moments of your life rejoicing solely because of me.

But I could not see.

At best, all I could see and hear was:

"Good. I slip aside and evade through the subtleties of the ■■ Movement Art."

"I respond with ■■■ Sword, the third form of the ■■ Art!"

Only this.

I could not see your swords.

"Very well. I counter with ■■ Kick, the second form of ■■■."

"I follow with the ■■■ Art of ■■■■!"

I could not understand.

"Good. With the ■■■■ Sword of ■■■■, I strike your ■■ and ■■!"

"Hasty, aren't you? I evade with ■■■■, then use ■■■■ to aim at your throat."

"I counter and strike your ■■■ with ■■■■■, the tenth form of ■■■■!"

"Using ■■, I turn ■■■■■ into ■■■■. After countering, I swing ■■, the ■ ■■ ■■ of ■■■■■, around and ■■."

"■■■■, then ■■■ to ■■ and ■■■..."

It was dark.

The realm where the two of them romped was so very far away.

"After countering..."

That was when it happened.

Master, panting for breath, turned to look at me.

"..."

Suddenly, it seemed as though time had stopped.

Master's gaze.

Her ink-black gaze rested on my face.

"... Yes."

A small smile played on Master's lips.

"My disciple, the day is cold."

"..."

"Winter has repeated itself until this place has become an eternal snowfield. A snowfield is a harsh battleground for martial artists. Even a single step is apt to sink deep into the snow, so one must constantly employ footwork techniques."

Master touched the snow with her fingers.

Fine flakes clung to her fingertips.

"That is why a duel on a snowfield always focuses on breaking the opponent's stance. Do you understand, my disciple? There is no need to insist on taking your opponent's head or cutting through their waist. It is enough to pressure them until they can no longer use their footwork."

"..."

"That is why your ghost and I are trying to steal each other's space. By depriving each other of room to move, we narrow the range of movement available."

Master.

"Our frequent kicks serve the same purpose. They are not merely meant to strike the opponent. By kicking up the snow, we obscure their vision, however slightly. Hmm, it is truly a desperate struggle, is it not...?"

Master whispered into my ear.

"Close your eyes."

Master's left hand slowly covered my eyes.

"I can see my opponent."

"... Yes."

"A powerful, noble master. He is very large. His body must be nearly twice the size of mine. Is that not so?"

In my mind, I pictured the attendant spirit.

"Yes."

"A master like a great brown bear is breathing heavily. He smiles confidently, as though to say, Come at me. There is such a difference in our builds. He must be confident..."

As Master's whispering continued, the attendant spirit's figure grew clearer.

"How can I overcome the difference in our natural builds? I accept it. I accept it, but remember my own strengths. I should be able to move more swiftly than he does. Above all, I am accustomed to snowfields. I will execute Treading Snow Without a Trace more skillfully than he..."

"Yes."

"A prolonged battle. Do you understand, my disciple? I am aiming for a prolonged battle."

"Oh dear," Master said playfully.

"But that fellow sees through my intentions. His movements grow urgent. His blade quickens. He charges toward me like a wild boar..."

Soon.

"But there is nothing to fear. I already expected this. I step backward, lightly, step backward..."

Before my eyes.

"And draw him in."

A scene took shape before my eyes.

"I keep stepping backward. My steps are light, ever so light. He is truly like a wild boar, charging forward as he sends snow flying in every direction..."

Winter has repeated itself, and the world is an eternal snowfield.

Master steps backward.

The attendant spirit charges.

"... With every step we take, snow blossoms bloom and scatter."

Now I, too,

began to see their swords.