Chapter 341

Chapter 341

What is providence?

People commonly call the will of heaven, Heavenly Will, providence. They call it providence when the world flows in the direction it should naturally flow, and they say it defies heaven when going against that providence.

Those words are half correct, but also half incorrect. Because heaven is capricious and doesn’t unconditionally lead the world in one direction, but creates branches through choices.

What the majority calls defying heaven is like that. Changing the world’s flow from the largest choice presented by heaven to a smaller choice, making the water flowing straight ahead leak into a small side path—that’s the ‘defying heaven’ that worldly people speak of. However.

What if such a person exists? If there’s someone who completely goes against the world’s flow and achieves truly literal ‘defying heaven.’

Could the world truly forgive that person?

‘……This is serious.’

Sangwi’s summit.

Heukya, who had been leisurely driving the Talgatja while continuously extending attacks, suddenly looked up at the sky and involuntarily widened her eyes. The celestial signs that had been fluctuating unreadably for several weeks, gradually calming down and becoming fixed.

An ominous star, a star scattering red light, is setting.

One massive ominous star falls downward with its tail. While emitting a burning heat as if to destroy the world, yet failing to destroy it and falling. What that means is one thing.

‘Does this mean I will be defeated and die here?’

Is such a thing even possible?

Heukya, who had been looking at the Talgatja with eyes containing bewilderment for a moment, curled her tails and burst space. Four Talgatja hastily avoiding their positions at the sensation of space crunching whole.

‘It’s not them.’

Neither Geomseon’s sword strike, nor Taeag’s fist strike, nor Ilryun’s strong energy, nor Daehwalbeol’s dharma power.

None of them can invade her in this domain. Because their limits are far too clear.

They’re those who, because they’re too strong, don’t look closely at the realm beyond. Because they know how nonsensical what they’re trying to achieve is, they’re those who can’t be omnipotent in the realm of omnipotence. That she would be defeated by them is as nonsensical as a fully grown tiger being bitten to death by a mere fox.

‘Then, what exactly……’

What is it? What will bring her down?

‘Ah.’

Confirming the Talgatja who had briefly created distance and reflexively checking her Ki sense spread throughout Sangwi’s back, Heukya let out a sigh.

‘Uicheon. Baek Riyun.’

Because her adversary was there.

‘Why……’

She can assert it.

At the Great Sealing in the desert, she pierced Baek Riyun’s heart. Though she didn’t smash his body to pieces, it means she clearly confirmed his soul leaving his flesh.

There was only one reason she poured that much effort into Baek Riyun, who had merely set foot in the realm of Sipcheon. Because according to the heavenly signs, Baek Riyun was her adversary. At the moment the heavenly signs concentrated, that was the only situation where she could surely kill Baek Riyun.

It certainly should have been so, yet why.

‘Why are you alive?’

If Baek Riyun is alive, this distortion of heavenly signs can be understood. Because Baek Riyun is her adversary.

If it’s common for a story’s protagonist to defeat their adversary and meet the finale, then the story’s protagonist failing to defeat their adversary and meeting a miserable end could also be called one framework of a story.

Baek Riyun is the one who can play that adversary’s role. Not rabble, but one who can play the role of the final, ultimate adversary.

‘I must stop him.’

She doesn’t know what he’s doing. But if left like this, Baek Riyun will ultimately kill her.

She must stop him somehow.

The moment Heukya, who had conviction, tried to move, the four Talgatja who noticed that fact faster than anyone exchanged glances with each other. Geomseon blocking the path simultaneously.

“Hehe. Where are you going?”

-You intend to block the path?

“When what you’re trying to do is so obvious, would there be a fool who doesn’t block that path?”

-Foolish. Do you think you can stop me? When your limit was merely running away like a rat?

The moment she takes one step, she leaps across space.

-Laughable.

Heukya, who instantly leaped across several li of space, raised her hand to snipe at Baek Riyun visible far away. But Geomseon’s voice still audible at her ear.

“What’s laughable.”

-……!

Five Elements Prison

“Wouldn’t it be proper to say such things after shaking off this old man?”

Space splitting at the sword strike.

Confirming the form that seemed to have approached right before her eyes distorting, and the leaped space becoming an illusion and crumbling like foam, Heukya reflexively twisted her body and evaded the attack. Attacks and momentums on a completely different trajectory from before.

Full power.

-Seems you’ve finally decided to play with me in earnest.

“Hehe, even now I don’t particularly want to confront you head-on.”

Geomseon, who gave a bitter smile, answered while firmly gripping his sword hilt.

“If we have no choice but to confront, shouldn’t we do so?”

Die to survive, live to die.

Hoping for luck in defeating a strong enemy is the worst strategy. If there’s only one method to win, even if death clearly lurks before that method, there’s no choice but to do it.

“Even though this old body has aged, my judgment hasn’t dulled to that degree. Hehe.”

-Is that so?

Troublesome.

Heukya, who received Geomseon’s words in a low voice, closed her eyes then half-opened them slightly. Monster energy beginning to sweep at the same time.

-Then there’s only one thing to do.

The situation is clear. She must break through, and they must block.

-Let’s test how much you can block me.

You won’t be able to avoid it now.

Fwaaaaa-!!!

Watching Heukya’s tails after speaking gradually take on a strange form, Geomseon burst into empty laughter.

“……Huh.”

Before Geomseon’s eyes.

Ten Heukyas were directly facing Geomseon.

***

What is martial learning?

I once asked Father such a question when I was young. That’s because at that time, I couldn’t understand well what martial learning was.

The method of moving the body and wielding the sword is certainly martial without doubt, but it cannot be called learning. It’s even harder to call it a way. I wondered what learning or way there could be in simply subduing and killing opponents more effectively.

That’s why I was curious what martial was. Why could martial transcend the realm of technique and take on learning and even achieve the way?

I thought that way and asked Father. Father’s answer at that time was clear.

-Martial learning is the foundation that enables humans to reach the divine.

Because martial is something you can only walk by facing your limits each time.

That’s why martial is what can ultimately transcend even the world’s limits and reach the divine realm.

That is precisely martial learning’s possibility and the way of martial arts’ purpose.

“Are you Uicheon?”

“Pleasure to meet you.”

“I’m not particularly pleased. I’m Sipcheon Geomgwi.”

The mountain ridge where explosive sounds echo.

Confirming the scene of an earth-shaking battle unfolding far away, Geomgwi stared intently at me then suddenly asked.

“Who went ahead?”

“Four Talgatja. Sado Alliance Leader. Bulgwae. Geomhu.”

“Did they all show their martial arts?”

“If they hadn’t shown them, there would have been no reason for me to be here.”

“That would be so. Damn it. To think I have to voluntarily have my wealth stripped by others.”

Geomgwi, who furrowed his brow as if displeased, sighed then drew his sword. At the same time, Geomgwi glaring at me while speaking.

“I’ll only show it once. If I show it more than that, I think it would be meaningless. Is that sufficient?”

“It’s sufficient.”

“Damn confidence. Is it a young person’s spirit?”

“Should someone carrying your fate have drooping shoulders?”

“You’re right. Except for being unpleasant.”

Geomgwi, who spat, immediately began displaying his sword. Sword strikes clearly different from those who had displayed swordsmanship before, overflowing with killing intent and fighting spirit.

‘It’s different.’

Was it called all streams return to the source?

Though they say even if there are ten thousand paths, ultimately they return to one, the sword strikes of those said to have reached martial way’s profound meaning are this different. Why is that?

Is it simply because there’s a difference in level? Because Geomgwi is weaker than the Sado Alliance Leader, and Geomhu is weaker than Geomgwi?

‘No.’

The premise that they’re different is wrong from the start. Even if the meanings they hold in their martial learning and the directions they chase are all different, the center is the same.

One line.

One flow penetrating all martial learning is clearly there. Though it hasn’t clearly revealed itself yet, one line that will nevertheless certainly exist.

“……Done?”

“I’ve seen sufficiently.”

“Words of thanks?”

“Do you need them?”

“Hearing them would just make me feel worse.”

At my retort, watching Geomgwi, who furrowed his brow, shouldering his sword and disappearing far away, I slowly waited for time. People passing before me gradually increasing.

“It’s been a while…… no, so you were Uicheon?”

“It’s been a while.”

Sipcheon, Gunggwi passes.

“You won’t leak the martial arts elsewhere, will you?”

“Do I look like such a person?”

Ice Palace Lord Seolgyeongwang passed.

“My martial arts are a bit different in trajectory.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Chilryun, Muheuggaek and Cheongong pass.

“I thought you were a promising youth, but I didn’t expect to encounter you here.”

“Those words are truly right.”

Shaolin, Wudang, Huashan, Kongtong.

“Accomplish it.”

Namgung, Peng Family, Jegal, Tang Clan.

“If you don’t succeed, I’ll kill you.”

Even the evil faction’s seven gates,

Numerous Central Plains martial styles display their martial arts before me and walk into the battlefield. Those weaker than me, those stronger than me—the scene of them walking toward death through the small path opened before me.

‘Ah.’

Dozens and hundreds of martial styles gather to perceive one path.

As I unknowingly let out a sigh at that path revealing its outline, I silently watched as one figure revealed itself from beyond the path and stood before me. And the appearance of the middle-aged man standing before me and staring intently at me.

“…….”

Silence flows.

“You already know the Baek Ri Family’s martial arts. Is there a need to show them?”

“There isn’t.”

When I shook my head at Father’s appearance opening his mouth after looking at me without saying anything, Father looked at me with an expressionless face then spoke in a low voice.

“I can only show it once.”

“I already know the Baek Ri Family’s martial…….”

“It’s not the Baek Ri Family’s martial arts. It’s your mother’s martial arts.”

“…….”

“The Divine Maiden’s martial arts are originally the main current of all martial arts. Martial arts that neither I nor Yeonbi properly understood. Martial arts whose power is far too lacking to be called divine technique or absolute mastery.”

But martial arts most needed by you now.

“Watch well and remember.”

Along with the words, Father begins deploying martial arts. Martial arts like a dance.

Loose then intense, seeming to sweep in yet withdrawing backward. Slow and fast, strong yet soft.

“Martial learning of possibility.”

Infinite Performance Dance.

“Did you see?”

“Yes.”

“That should be sufficient.”

Watching Father’s back disappearing along with his words, I quietly closed my eyes. The scene visible thanks to the Monster Energy surging around, the realm of omnipotence where anything is possible.

‘I can’t deploy it perfectly.’

There’s still much superfluity.

I can’t grasp what should be removed. What the clear path is also isn’t certain yet. Though the outline revealed itself, I haven’t grasped everything enough to carve out everything along that outline.

However, having grasped it is what’s important. Now that I know what the center is, the situation is clear.

“I can kill.”

I stood up and gripped my sword.

Twisting the heavenly signs.

The sword of Heaven Slaughter.