5 – 01# Nine Deaths, One Life (5)

Usually, one could channel Sword Qi from the Master level onwards.

Depictions differ depending on the story, but Sword Essence could only be used from the Apex or Transcendent levels. At least, that’s how the martial arts novels I’d read so far portrayed it. I imagine things aren’t all that different here.

Because of that, I was a little tense at first. They said Moyong was the clan’s once-in-a-generation genius. So, I had assumed she was a Master who had reached a high level, at the very least. Thankfully, that didn’t seem to be the case.

If she was a master of similar skill, her attacks wouldn’t have been so obviously telegraphed, slow to the point of being almost comical. The wooden sword held between his fingers resembled a butterfly caught by its delicate wings.

It struggled desperately, trying to escape, but no matter how long she waited, it showed no sign of freeing itself. Eventually, he would simply have to release its wings.

“That’s enough, I think. Great Hero.”

“Ah, it’s not over yet! Older Brother!”

“Sua, you know this already, do you not?”

“…….”

Moyong Sua shouted at Moyong Hyeon as he approached, clapping his hands, but his reprimanding tone silenced her. Like a child with a mouthful of honey, the girl gave no response.

He’d effortlessly dodged all her attacks, and in the end, she’d even resorted to using a martial art, only to have it foiled just as easily. It was fair to say that my side had won a clear victory.

However, there was a perplexing element. Still, she was supposed to be Moyong clan’s once-in-a-generation genius. Was she truly only on the Second-Rate stage? But I quickly came to a conclusion.

‘She could reach the Apex stage in the next four years. It wouldn’t be wise to dismiss her so readily.’

Whether I liked it or not, I had to maintain ties with the Moyong clan. Of course, in the late stages of most martial arts novels, pretty much everyone became an Apex-level expert. But even that was desperately important to me.

Even though I was stuck in a martial arts world, and a martial artist myself, I wanted to at least reach the Apex stage. After 30 years of effort, I somehow managed to reach the Master level.

Sadly, the Apex stage was nowhere in sight. That’s why I was trying to secure connections with the Moyong clan. A martial art, a mental cultivation technique, or even spiritual medicine to cultivate my inner energy.

‘Even if I don’t receive anything like that, just sparring with the masters of the Moyong clan will greatly broaden my horizons.’

Even rotten fish is still somewhat nutritious. The Moyong clan was, without a doubt, a prestigious family that formed one pillar of the Martial Alliance. Therefore, there must also be masters who have reached Apex, or even higher levels.

Moreover, I would be able to receive the assistance of the Moyong clan when I eventually venture into the martial world. In many ways, it was a relationship of gain, not one that could be described as a loss.

Having finished my calculations, I approached Moyong Hyeon and Moyong Sua, who was being scolded by him. She seemed to have been thoroughly reprimanded. Moyong Sua’s face was filled with gloom.

“Enough of that.”

“Great Hero Nameless, you’ve arrived.”

“She’s but a child, still wet behind the ears. Everyone has their clumsy stage.”

“As expected of you, Great Hero, your heart is as vast as the sea. I am truly grateful.”

Seemed I was being scolded for using an overly powerful technique during the spar. Honestly, from my perspective, it wasn’t much of a threat. Because it was dreadfully slow, that’s why.

Truth be told, I didn’t even realize it *was* a technique at first. If Mo Yong-hyeon hadn’t told me during the spar, I’d have never known it was a Mo Yong Clan technique. If he had not told me, I may have never known that it was related to Mo Yong Family.

That’s why I had casually said it was fine and stopped Mo Yong-hyeon. In response, Mo Yong-hyeon bowed his head, expressing his thanks. I thought, why are you being so burdensome? That moment.

“Now I can entrust Sua to you without any worries, Great Hero. A weight has truly been lifted.”

Ah.

Only then did I realize the reason Mo Yong-hyeon was being overly grateful. Was it really coming to this? No, but I couldn’t just passively accept this troublesome burden.

“I don’t particularly mind. However, I am worried about Miss Mo Yong-sua.”

“What do you mean?”

“She seems to have been greatly shocked by this spar. Showing her too high a sky can break her spirit. It might be better for the clan to take care of her directly.”

“Indeed…”

“No, I am fine.”

Seeing Mo Yong-hyeon nod in understanding at my words, I held a glimmer of hope, just for a moment. Until a firm voice flew from behind me. Turning my gaze, I saw Mo Yong-sua’s blazing eyes.

“This girl is still a martial artist at heart, however flawed. I cannot simply tuck my tail and retreat.”

Eyes burning as if someone had thrown oil onto a fire. The emotion within them was none other than a competitive spirit. In other words, a look that conveyed a burning desire to get back at me somehow.

I felt it instinctively.

My future was about to become very troublesome.

◇

That day, which might have been a joyous occasion, turned into a cold funeral. That was the day Mo Yong-sua was born into the clan. Mo Yong-sua never saw her mother’s face.

Because her mother had lost her life giving birth to Sua. Do you know the feeling of receiving unconditional love from birth? At least, Mo Yong-sua didn’t know that warmth.

The one who devoured her mother.

The cursed spirit that will destroy the clan.

The clan’s anger at losing their beloved mistress was directed at the innocent child. Her maternal relatives treated Mo Yong-sua like a veritable demon, and the clan head didn’t particularly discourage such behavior.

Of course, it wasn’t that no one in the clan sympathized with Mo Yong-sua’s plight. But their numbers were clearly far fewer than those who opposed her, and even they couldn’t step forward for fear of the clan head’s gaze.

In the midst of that, Mo Yong-sua chose to take up the sword. In truth, it seems that she was trying to attract attention. I like swords too, if you teach me, I’ll work hard.

So.

Just once.

Please, look at me.

Thanks to the few people who sympathized with Mo Yong-sua’s plight. Mo Yong-sua was able to learn a little bit of martial arts. But at first, no one looked at Sua.

At least, not until Sua proved her talent with her own two hands. The moment she perfectly replicated the forms of the Murong Clan’s martial arts, that’s when the Lord finally looked at Sua.

Some might call it petty ambition, perhaps. But for Sua, it was the warm attention, the love, she had so desperately craved. And so, Sua began to learn martial arts from the Lord.

[武 is when people fight each other risking their lives, the loser hands over their life and the victor takes their life. That’s what true 武 is. I only came to realize that now by meeting a good friend and teacher.]

She didn’t want to betray the Lord’s expectations. She never wanted to return to those lonely days. Therefore, Sua did her absolute best to satisfy the Lord.

The Flash Cloud Sword was a sword technique the Lord himself taught her. It was proof that she was finally recognized as a member of the Murong Clan. Moreover, it was the affection and love bestowed as a blood relative.

Thanks to this, Sua couldn’t waste a single day. If she were to mistakenly disappoint her father, no, the Lord, she feared she would revert to those old times where she was all alone.

The reason she followed Murong Hyun this time was also because she didn’t want to disappoint her brother. From long ago, Murong Hyun was one of the few people who looked after her, even in a small way.

But then, an unbelievable anomaly occurred. The Flash Cloud Sword technique, taught to her personally by the Lord, was countered with such ease. By some backwater old man, no less.

It wasn’t just that the technique was countered. The opponent didn’t even attack, simply evading every strike. It was as though she was trying to cleave flowing water with a sword, utterly impossible.

In the end, Sua’s wooden sword never touched the old man until the spar concluded. Shattered by the unbelievable result, Murong Hyun approached Sua and sighed.

“Master Myeong is an expert who has reached the Zenith.”

“Impossible. How could a master of the Zenith, of which even the Five Great Clans barely have one or two, be in a place like this…”

“That, I wouldn’t know. Masters of the Zenith rarely bend their will. There must be some story behind it.”

It is said that grasping the mysteries within martial arts and fully embodying them in one’s sword is the realm of first-rate practitioners. Zenith, on the other hand, is a realm where one transcends the mysteries of martial arts and pioneers a new path.

For a martial artist, it signifies a height so absolute, that one can climb no further. In other words, it is called the Immovable Realm. Unyielding to any external pressure.

There is no wavering in displaying one’s own unique mysteries and techniques. Therefore, masters of the Zenith were so few and precious that even the Five Great Clans barely had one or two.

But so what?

‘If the Lord finds out that my technique was countered, that I only survived… I really might go back to the way things were.’

What matters most to Sua is not disappointing the Lord. For that, she is prepared to fight, even if it means giving her life. Better to die than to return to being alone.