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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: 58
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The last remaining inheritor of Hwasan.
That was Yugang, the current foremost disciple of the Hwasanpa and the youngest Plum Blossom Swordsman.
In his previous life, Hwasan was destroyed even before Namgung. No, it was the first among all factions to fall.
It happened even before the Hyeolgyo emerged into the world.
‘They must be decaying from within by now.’
The Hwasan of today would believe they were blooming more fully than ever before. And to some extent, that was true.
However, a fully bloomed flower is bound to wither. Blossoms fall, and fall again.
In the end, only a single plum blossom would remain.
“I’ll do my best.”
The image of the man who had called himself the last plum blossom overlapped the face of the child holding the sword.
Seolhwa also gripped her sword and faced him.
“Just a moment ago, you looked like death warmed over. Are you finally ready to fight?”
The man, who had proudly bloomed alone and carried on Hwasan’s legacy, shook his head resolutely.
“No. I still don’t think I can beat you. And honestly, I don’t even understand what you and Master were talking about.”
It seemed he hadn't been informed about the Daehwandan beforehand.
“But I do know that my sect’s name is on the line.”
Yugang tapped his chest with a thud.
“So, I have to do my best.”
‘Therefore, I will do my utmost to cut you down. I will cut you down, and I will survive to continue Hwasan’s legacy. For as long as life remains in even a withered old tree, the plum blossoms will one day bloom again.’
In his previous life, and in this one too. He was truly a man who loved plum blossoms.
“Alright. That’s much better than giving up.”
He couldn’t keep that promise in his previous life, but I hope he does this time.
However, today is not that day.
“I plan to do my best too.”
Yugang’s expression stiffened.
“Can’t you go easy on me?”
“No.”
“Because of that elixir?”
“No. That’s just a minor reason.”
“Then why are you doing your best?”
“Well… let’s just say it’s for your sake.”
You wouldn’t know that Hwasan’s future hinges on this duel.
You say you’ll do your best to protect Hwasan’s name, but you don’t realize that losing this duel is what will truly protect Hwasan.
“For my sake…?”
Yugang let out a sigh of understanding. “Ah, I see.”
“Haha. You’re right. If I’m going to lose anyway, it’s better to lose in the most spectacular way possible.”
He seemed to have decided that not holding back would uphold his pride.
Behind his playful smile, tension was evident. Yugang held his sword and cupped his hands in salute.
“I, Yugang, foremost disciple of Hwasanpa, request a duel with the young lady of Namgung.”
Seolhwa stood straight and returned Yugang’s greeting.
“I, Namgung Seolhwa of Namgung Sega, accept your challenge.”
The two stared at each other for a fleeting moment.
Thwack—!
Yugang charged at Seolhwa first.
Hwasan’s last inheritor charged at Seolhwa.
Clang! Clang!
Yugang’s sword, true to Hwasan’s style, pursued speed and variation.
The rapidly changing forms seemed like the blossoming of a single flower bud.
‘As expected of Hwasan.’
Truly a beautiful sword.
To wield such a beautiful sword, one must swing it without pause. This requires solid external martial arts as a foundation.
It’s a sword that demands stamina to sustain longer breaths, as one must swing it more times than others.
That’s why Seolhwa always thought the same thing when facing Hwasan swordsmen in her previous life.
‘Relentless.’
Behind their unparalleled beauty, the sweat and effort they poured into their training were relentlessly evident.
The saying that the more beautiful the plum blossoms drawn by the sword strikes, the deeper their fragrance, must carry that meaning.
For them, the plum blossom fragrance was the product of their arduous efforts.
Clang! Clang!
There was another reason why Yugang’s sword was considered the best among them.
‘It’s rugged.’
Yugang’s sword contained the essence of ruggedness.
‘He was already this rugged at such a young age.’
Hwasan is one of the Five Great Mountains of Jungwon, famous for its rugged and perilous terrain.
A sword, after all, represents the swordsman’s life.
Thus, Hwasan’s sword inevitably embodied the ‘ruggedness’ of the Five Great Mountains, the very foundation of their homeland.
A fast, infinitely changing, yet rugged sword art.
Yugang had already realized, at a young age, what was easy to miss when captivated by beauty.
Clangg—! Clang—!
Seolhwa parried Yugang’s sword.
‘He is a swordsman through and through.’
Unlike when she first met him and countered with palm techniques, he was utterly serious with a sword in hand.
Plum blossom qi was already rising from Yugang’s body like a shimmering haze.
‘A true first-rate master.’
To be at the boundary between first-rate and pinnacle at this age.
‘He’s a genius too, after all.’
Indeed, he had quite troubled the Hyeolgyo in her previous life.
He would storm into the Hyeolgyo’s battlefields, claiming to be Hwasan’s last plum blossom.
Seolhwa, who primarily dealt with Namgung’s affairs, had encountered him several times.
He stubbornly survived, just as he boasted, and continued Hwasan’s legacy. He threw himself into chaotic battles in Hwasan’s name.
Until eventually…
Clang—! Clang!
Seolhwa found this situation quite enjoyable. It was delightful to witness the past of someone who had been her rival in her previous life.
A smile had unknowingly spread across her lips.
The more she received and savored Yugang’s sword, the deeper her smile became.
Clang—!
“…!”
The sound of Seolhwa parrying Yugang’s sword echoed through Un-gaekwon’s training ground.
Yugang barely managed to keep hold of his sword, but his breathing was already ragged, and his hands throbbed.
“Ha… Haa… Ha…”
‘I can’t see his sword path at all.’
Yugang was bewildered.
He knew he wouldn’t be a match, but he hadn’t expected to be so helpless.
He had swung his sword with all his might, just as he said.
The young lady of Namgung merely parried his sword without even launching a proper attack.
Yet.
‘I’m being pushed back. Why?’
His ragged breathing quickly steadied.
Seolhwa waited for him as he slowly regulated his breath.
His gaze settled calmly.
Eyes that thought only of the sword.
“Huuuuh…”
Yugang took an initiating stance.
The initiating stance was akin to the prelude of a sword art.
‘Is it Minor Purity Sword?’
Whoosh—
A pinkish aura rose around Yugang’s sword like a shimmering haze.
It was sword qi, which only those who reached the Pinnacle realm could wield.
‘Is he pouring everything into this attack?’
Since he hadn’t yet reached the Pinnacle, he could only manifest sword qi for a fleeting moment.
As if to prove it, Yugang charged forward the moment he manifested his sword qi.
‘Impetuous.’
While it was surprising for a first-rate master to manifest sword qi, it also became his weakness.
Moreover, he chose the wrong sword art. Out of Hwasan’s many sword arts, why Minor Purity Sword?
‘A sword so clear and honest that it held no greed, not even the slightest trace of selfish thought.’
It was a sword well-suited for Daoist sword arts, but.
‘When it comes to clarity and honesty, Namgung is a step above.’
Sword art for sword art.
Matching Yugang’s initiating stance, Seolhwa also took one.
The sword art Seolhwa adopted was the most fundamental sword art of Namgung.
A sword art that resembled the high, vast sky.
It was the Grand Evolution Sword Art.
‘The second form among the latter three forms of the Grand Evolution Sword Art.’
A reddish aura also rose from Seolhwa’s body like a shimmering haze.
It was precisely as much as Yugang’s qi. As much as Yugang’s utmost effort.
‘Grand Evolution Heavenly Net.’
At that moment, Yugang felt an illusion as if the sky had become a colossal net, enveloping him.
If swordsmanship had a predator, he thought Seolhwa’s sword art was it.
Yugang gritted his teeth and swung his sword.
Like a rabbit struggling to the end, knowing it would be devoured, he completed his sword art, even knowing he would lose.
Soon, sword clashed with sword.
Law clashed with law.
Dao clashed with Dao.
Swish—! Clangg—!
The sword arts displayed by the two stirred up a dust storm from the training ground floor.
No one watching the duel could easily speak.
The duel between the two, at ages thirteen and fifteen, was unbelievably profound.
Click—
In the quiet stillness, Seolhwa sheathed her sword.
Yugang remained frozen in the final motion of his sword art.
His hand no longer held his sword.
Seolhwa picked up Yugang’s sword, which lay sprawled on the ground, and approached him.
As she extended the sword, Yugang, who had been bowing his head, lifted his gaze.
With an exhausted look, having poured out all his internal energy, Yugang gave a bright, innocent smile.
“You’re unbelievably strong…”
“You’re quite good too.”
“Quite? Among my peers in Hwasan, I’m the strongest.”
Seolhwa’s eyebrows arched subtly.
“Why do you seek rivals among your peers?”
“Huh?”
“That’s why you’re limited.”
Seolhwa placed the sword firmly in his hand. She turned her back without hesitation.
“Get stronger and come back.”
Rumble….
Namgung Hyeok, the Black Dragon Commander, and Chief Steward Namgung Mun, who were standing in front of Un-gaekwon, simultaneously turned towards the main gate of Un-gaekwon.
“…Chief Steward. Didn’t you say this was a duel among children?”
“Hmm. It seems the First Young Master and Hwasan’s foremost disciple are also exchanging blows.”
“Ah.”
It could be that, too.
Namgung Hyeok felt his fingers tingle.
Hwasan’s sword, he thought.
‘I wish I could exchange blows too.’
Plum Reflection Sword Yupyo.
Isn’t that a name that has been stirring up the entire Jungwon recently?
He was the one who beheaded the leader of a Heukdo group, one of the top 100 masters, who had been causing trouble in the Sichuan region, and earned a place among the top 100 masters.
If he could exchange blows with such a person…
‘Hwasan’s sword. I’m truly curious.’
It was then, as he repeatedly clenched and unclenched his fists in regret.
“Hmph.”
“…?”
At Chief Steward Namgung Mun’s sigh, looking into the distance, Namgung Hyeok also lifted his gaze and looked.
Namgung Hyeok soon furrowed his brow.
In the distance, elders and hall masters were approaching in a group. And leading them was Namgung Cheonghae. Namgung Cheongsan was also visible beside him.
“Indeed. With such a commotion, it would be strange if they didn’t come. Ah, to think I’d miss the Family Head this much…”
Namgung Hyeok deeply sympathized with the Chief Steward’s quiet murmur.
