Chapter 187

Chapter 187

Two years ago. Anhwa County.

“There may be aftereffects.”

After finishing treating Seohwa, who had collapsed after burning away all the monster energy, my expression hardened at Sinwi’s heavily uttered words. Because she pointed out exactly the problem I had been trying to ignore.

“Aftereffects…… you say?”

“Yeah. Since she received monster energy in a human body…… I think there’s a high probability aftereffects will remain…….”

“What kind of aftereffects will remain?”

“Well…… I don’t know either, but probably her temperament will change or…… her eyes will be affected. I think it’ll be one of the two…….”

“Her temperament or eyes, you say?”

“The monster energy disappeared near the upper dantian.”

Sinwi, who slightly averted her eyes, poked her own eyelids with her fingers and continued speaking.

“Even though the Du Meridian wasn’t opened, the traces where the monster energy passed will definitely remain…… probably it will affect her somehow……. The best case would be her vision dropping slightly, but in the worst case, she could become blind or insane…….”

“That won’t do. Isn’t there some way?”

“Even if you say that…… at that point it’s not the realm of medicine but the realm of modification…… unless we modify her body with magic techniques…….”

Modification? Magic techniques?

Compensation for karma is being settled.

Please choose one of the following two options.

Thinking about the window that had appeared when the incident was settled for now, I nodded. If I thought about it, it wasn’t that there was no method, was it?

“What if I told you there’s a magical artifact that can help overcome even a Heavenly Punishment?”

“Yeah? How does it work…….”

“It’s a Curse Dispeller.”

“Curse Dispeller? Don’t tell me you mean a Curse Dispelling Talisman?”

“It’s not exactly the same but similar. It’s called a Curse Dispelling Document.”

“A Curse Dispelling Document is made by weaving together dozens of Curse Dispelling Talismans. It’s not usually easy to make. With just one of those, you could even buy Sky-Blue Stone Oil. If it’s a Curse Dispelling Document that can overcome even a Heavenly Punishment…… it might be possible…….”

Sinwi, who had been glancing at me while muttering, turned her gaze back toward Seohwa. And the following words.

“Sorry…… I don’t know how it will work either. It seems possible, but I don’t think she’ll return to her original state.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah. Curse dispelling literally repels all negative energy, it doesn’t make it as if nothing happened…….”

Because there’s no precedent of a human surviving the influence of monster energy, it’s unknown what will happen.

In the worst case, the Curse Dispelling Document might recognize the situation strangely and cause her to shed her human form and be reborn as a monster, and even in the best case, something would change.

Sinwi said so, and I kept that in mind and used the Curse Dispelling Document on Seohwa. And──

Time passed and it comes to now.

“Ah, Gate Master. You’re here?”

Dog hour. The annex assigned to Uicheonmun.

After finishing my conversation with Geomhu and Namgung Yeoncheon and walking leisurely into the annex, Seohwa, who had been sitting on the wooden floor swinging her legs back and forth, welcomed me. A bitter smile naturally came out at her violet eyes shining while reflecting the moonlight.

“You must have eaten already, yet you haven’t prepared for bed and what are you doing? Tomorrow is the duel.”

“Aw, what would be different just because it’s a duel? Doing things as usual is most important.”

“That’s also true.”

As I agreed with Seohwa’s words and approached the wooden floor, Seohwa slid slightly to the side to make a place for me to sit. The breeze brushing coolly past my nape.

“What are you thinking about so deeply?”

“Mm, I was thinking about whether I can win tomorrow.”

“You will be able to win.”

“But the opponent is a promising rising star of the Namgung Family?”

“Aren’t you a promising rising star of Uicheonmun?”

“Hihi.”

“Looking at you, it seems burdensome. Seeing you unable to sleep like this.”

“A little?”

At my teasing, Seohwa, showing a small smile, brushed her hair behind her ear and continued speaking while looking at the risen moon.

“I am worried. Though Gate Master said I’m growing sufficiently well…… I’ve only been learning martial arts for just two years. Could I have surpassed ten years with just two years?”

“Mm.”

“Even with these eyes, could I have surpassed ten years? What if I lose? What happens if the first start of the duel journey begins with my defeat? I was thinking such things. Though they’re weak thoughts.”

“Worrying about your own future is natural. Especially when it involves not just yourself but others.”

I nodded and followed Seohwa’s gaze to fix my eyes on the moon hanging in the sky. Perhaps because the weather was clear, moonlight shining so brightly that eyes opened wide.

“You can win.”

“…….”

“I want to say that, but it doesn’t seem like words that would resonate with you right now.”

Telling someone with a burden that they can do it is rather something that makes them shoulder an even greater burden.

So what I need to say right now is decided. I opened my mouth casually.

“Do you know when people become strong?”

“……What?”

“They become strong when overcoming life-and-death situations, when experiencing something that can overturn their life. The reason Cheokyi, though possessing mediocre martial arts, could stand shoulder to shoulder with or even stand out among the talented individuals of Muryeongwan is because he crossed numerous life-and-death situations.”

Seomooncheok, who went through over ten battlefields of death, stood shoulder to shoulder with Muryeongwan disciples even with crude spearmanship combining marketplace Three Calamities Spear and Six Harmonies Spear techniques. Then what about Seohwa?

“You’re no different.”

“……Is that, so?”

“Yes. Even those eyes were obtained while crossing a life-and-death situation, weren’t they?”

Harsh training. The time spent learning martial arts. And talent.

Such things are merely secondary issues. What’s truly important isn’t the period of learning martial arts but how deeply it’s engraved in the body.

“If you can ponder deeply even while striking down with a sword once, it’s more valuable than striking down a thousand times thoughtlessly.”

“…….”

“And you’ve done that more than anyone else for these two years. You constantly doubted yourself. So I guarantee it.”

“What?”

“That you’re stronger than Namgung Yeon. That your two years have more density than that child’s ten years.”

Martial arts learned just because they had to be learned as things flowed versus martial arts honed while gritting one’s teeth—which side would be stronger is a self-evident fact.

Seohwa, who smiled bitterly after hearing my words, brought her knees together.

“Now that I’ve heard such words, I can’t lose.”

“Does it burden you more?”

“That too, a little? But I do feel more at ease.”

Seohwa, who chuckled, thrust her fist forward. And like dew forming on that fist, gauntlets unfolded.

“I’ll try. Diligently.”

“Mm.”

If you’ve made up your mind to do it, it will work out.

I nodded and patted Seohwa’s shoulder. Seohwa’s atmosphere became subtly lighter.

The duel was approaching right before us.

***

“Isn’t it cool? Right? Brother. You’re listening, right?”

Namgunghyeon was having a headache right now.

“Please be quiet.”

“What? I spoke quietly?”

Horse hour. First Training Ground.

Looking at Namgunghyeon, who couldn’t endure and spoke up at Namgung Yeon’s continuously chattering appearance, Namgung Yeon made a blank expression and furrowed her brow as she talked back. However, Namgunghyeon immediately frowned.

“I’ve heard that ‘isn’t it cool’ question twenty-six times just today. So I mean please stop.”

“But it is cool.”

“What is?”

“The Uicheonmun disciples. Look over there. Should I say they definitely have character?”

Namgunghyeon, who turned his gaze toward the waiting Uicheonmun disciples at Namgung Yeon’s words, inwardly nodded. Because it wasn’t wrong.

‘Unlike yesterday, the martial arts they’ve learned are clearly revealed.’

Yesterday’s duel was a friendly match.

That’s why they used wooden spears with blunt ends, and swords also used practice swords without sharpened edges. Of course, martial artists at the level of Changgung Sword Corps or Uicheonmun disciples could harm people plenty even with such things, but it means they didn’t use their beloved weapons for now.

But what about now?

“Since I’ve seen San Sister’s Baekru several times before, let’s say that’s that, but the others are also carrying good weapons too. I briefly saw the one called Seonwoo Gang has—the sword blade was red?”

“…….”

“What on earth are those gauntlets? They look completely different from ordinary gauntlets.”

“You’re more interested in the opponents’ weapons than the opponents themselves. Have you never thought about exploring the opponents?”

“Aw…… well, that.”

Namgung Yeon, who chuckled, waved her hand.

“I originally tried to do that like Brother said, but watching yesterday’s duels, it didn’t seem like they’d let themselves be read easily, you know? They each came with extraordinary strategies.”

“That’s true.”

“And the youth division match is as good as won, isn’t it? That lady warrior named Seohwa. Honestly, looking at the day before yesterday, she didn’t seem ordinary.”

She was cool.

Namgung Yeon, recalling Seohwa’s appearance of perfectly commanding her fellow disciples despite her young age, nodded and continued speaking. Though Seohwa’s appearance shown previously was cool, this was a different story.

“That’s that and this is this. Leadership and martial arts aren’t proportional.”

“Like how even though you lack maturity, your martial arts are quite acceptable?”

“I can be a bit less mature. Because I’m cute. We need balance. Right, Brother?”

“Strange words. Since you’re terrifyingly disgusting, wouldn’t balance mean you should be more dignified than anyone in the world?”

“Geez. You have nothing you can’t say to your sister.”

Namgung Yeon, clenching her fist and poking Namgunghyeon’s side, shrugged her shoulders.

“Anyway, I really like those people. They’re strong, smart, and have good personalities. If I ask to be friends, will they do it? They will, right? Because I’m cute.”

“I don’t know where your baseless confidence comes from, but first wouldn’t it be a priority to win the duel before your eyes and then think about it? It’s about time for you to go up.”

“Ah.”

At Namgunghyeon’s words confirming the ceremony was ending, Namgung Yeon turned her gaze and, seeing Namgung Yeoncheon shooting her a sharp look as if to hurry up, scratched the back of her head and stood up.

“I’ll be back.”

“Alright. And let me give you one piece of advice.”

“What?”

“Never underestimate your opponent. Think of your opponent and yourself as equals.”

Seeing Namgunghyeon become serious as if all the playful questions and answers until now were lies, Namgung Yeon grinned and grabbed her sword hilt. Simultaneously, Namgung Yeon’s atmosphere settled down sharply.

“Brother. Are you saying that to me?”

“I’ve never let my guard down against anyone until now. Especially in duels where honor is at stake like this.”

I won’t lose.

Namgung Yeon, having given a definite answer to Namgunghyeon, quietly climbed onto the duel platform at Geomhu’s voice calling her. And soon after, Seohwa, called by Geomhu, climbed onto the duel platform.

“Namgung Family’s Namgung Yeon. My epithet is Small Azure Flower. Please take care of me, Sister.”

“Uicheonmun disciple Seohwa. I don’t have an epithet yet. I also request your guidance, Young Lady Namgung.”

Watching Seohwa, who exchanged cupped fist salutes and headed to her position, Namgung Yeon wore a faint smile. Because she seemed to roughly grasp Seohwa’s realm.

‘This is winnable. For someone who learned martial arts for two years, her movements are surprisingly organized but…… still, I should be able to decide the match in about fifty seconds.’

Originally, the lower the skill level of the fighters, the more the advantages of long weapons stand out. Moreover, in a situation where the flow of internal energy isn’t free, when sword and fist fight, isn’t the answer already there?

“Both contestants, prepare.”

Namgung Yeon, who had been gauging the opponent’s distance and heard Geomhu’s call, slowly went to her position and took a ready stance. And.

‘I’ll rush in as soon as it starts. If I attack then, I can gain the upper hand.’

“Begin!”

The moment Geomhu’s starting signal fell along with Namgung Yeon’s thoughts.

‘Now!’

Toward Seohwa rushing in, Namgung Yeon thrust her sword and.

“……!”

The sword extended to its maximum stopped precisely one chi before Seohwa’s nose.

“The distance is roughly this much.”

──Before the eyes of Seohwa, whose eyes were shining violet.