The Heaven-Slaying Sword - Chapter 38

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Order

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ The Heaven-Slaying Sword ◈

Chapter 38: Chapter Five - Dragon-Phoenix Assembly (11)

──────

Mok Ri-won’s advance to the finals shook not only She County, but all of Anhui.

The sword forms he had finally revealed were truly astonishing.

Irregular swordsmanship attainable through talent alone.

And overwhelming Inner power that had reached the peak despite his young age of eighteen.

For the prominent families of the Central Plains, all hoping to dominate the next generation, it would have been stranger not to try to recruit him.

The prominent families moved without pause.

Some prepared wealth, some precious medicines, and others secret manuals.

Yet there was one thing every one of them prepared as well.

“Marriage proposals...?”

Marriage.

One of the surest contracts in a land where blood ties bound relationships more firmly than anything else.

To bring Mok Ri-won under their control, they presented the daughters of their families.

The unusual part was that, unlike ordinary marriage proposals, the daughters of each great family eagerly rushed to throw themselves at him.

“Aren’t they finding every damned way to make a spectacle of themselves?”

At an inn in She County, Dang Hwa-seo explained the situation to Mok Ri-won, radiating a vicious air.

Her expression was so frightening that Jegal San, unusually quiet that day, merely drank from his cup.

“I-I do not want a marriage like that...!”

Mok Ri-won fiercely rejected the idea.

“Marriage is when a man and a woman who love each other spend eternity together! I want to marry someone I love!”

Mok Ri-won crossed his arms and huffed.

Dang Hwa-seo felt an uncontrollable satisfaction at the sight, then quickly brushed aside her feelings and nodded.

“Yes. Since that is what you wish, Young Hero Mok, I am not overly worried. Still, you must be careful.”

“Hmm?”

“As I said before, daughters of prominent families often lead rather dissolute lives. The moment those creatures realize how innocent you are, Young Hero Mok, they will drool as they try to devour you.”

“I-innocent...?”

“Young Hero Mok.”

“Yes! Speak.”

“Do you remember what I told you to do if an unfamiliar woman approaches?”

“I must say I am busy and run away! Then I must tell you, Miss!”

“Well done.”

Dang Hwa-seo smiled in satisfaction.

Mok Ri-won was simply happy to be praised, while Jegal San watched the little farce and thought to himself.

‘Brother Mok, keep following her like that, and she will have you led around by the nose.’

If one had to name the most rational person here, it would be Jegal San.

He could tell.

Dang Hwa-seo was pretending to worry about Mok Ri-won while thoroughly blocking every possible marriage prospect.

She was sweeping away the entire species known as women from around him.

‘Though it seems Sister does not realize it herself.’

Unconsciously guarding against romantic rivals. What a terrifying instinct.

As expected of the Sichuan Tang Clan.

As expected of the poison in the Tang Clan’s heart.

Jegal San shuddered in fear.

“Ah, is your match not in five days, Miss? How are your preparations going?”

The topic came up as their conversation continued.

Dang Hwa-seo’s fingertips trembled. She soon forced a smile and said,

“I am preparing as best I can.”

“I am really looking forward to it! I will support you until the end, Miss!”

“Do not expect too much...”

Dang Hwa-seo started to speak, then stopped and let out a hollow laugh.

What followed was spoken with disappointment in herself.

“...No. All right. I will give it a try.”

Dang Hwa-seo raised her cup.

‘Yes. How could I call myself a martial artist if I gave up out of fear before even trying? I should do all I can.’

The Dragon Phoenix Gathering was where she had come to display her martial prowess. Picking and choosing whom to use her martial arts against would only be a poor decision.

Dang Hwa-seo steeled herself.

Then she said,

“Let us put that aside and drink today. Young Hero Mok has reached the finals, yet we have not even celebrated.”

“Ah, good!”

Mok Ri-won smiled and agreed, but he was not truly trembling with joy.

A bitter smile flickered across his face from time to time.

‘Should I be happy...?’

Though he tried to put it out of his mind, Mok Ri-won had worries of his own.

Hyeon-gong had entered that match intending to lose.

He had never discovered why Hyeon-gong had shown such killing intent, either.

The match had left him with more unease than joy at victory, so Mok Ri-won could not feel at ease.

“Come now, Brother Mok. Down it in one go.”

Feeling that voicing such concerns after winning would seem deceptive, Mok Ri-won accepted Jegal San’s urging and raised his cup.

* * *

The grasp of the prominent families was closing around Mok Ri-won.

Dang Hwa-seo had warned him about it again and again, but some situations could not be avoided.

“Extreme Saber Paeng Do-wol.”

A man who somehow brought a tiger to mind blocked Mok Ri-won’s path in the middle of the road.

At his words, Mok Ri-won exclaimed and smiled.

“Ah! I know your name! Are you the legitimate heir of the Hebei Paeng Clan who won the Dragon Phoenix Gathering ten years ago?”

“I am honored that you remember me. Would it be all right if we spoke for a moment?”

“Speak?”

Mok Ri-won tilted his head.

Then, from behind the huge man, a young woman who had not yet shed all traces of youth darted out.

Paeng Do-wol smiled awkwardly.

“She is my younger sister. She was moved after watching your match and begged me to let her speak with you. Could you understand the position of an elder brother just this once?”

“I am Paeng Ji-wol...!”

Her cheeks flushed as she spoke shyly.

For some reason, Mok Ri-won felt a chill.

-If an unfamiliar woman approaches...

Dang Hwa-seo’s warning flashed through his mind again.

‘W-what should I do...?’

Mok Ri-won hesitated.

Of course, if he followed Dang Hwa-seo’s instructions, he should flee at once. But this was no ordinary person.

Extreme Saber Paeng Do-wol.

Mok Ri-won had heard enough to know the weight that name carried in the Martial World of the Central Plains.

Even setting that aside, would it not be rude to turn away someone approaching him so kindly?

Mok Ri-won slowly stepped backward.

A pitiable smile hung on his face.

“Haah...”

The fact that even that pitiable smile was beautiful was laughable in its own way.

“I-I have someone I need to meet...”

“Please.”

Paeng Do-wol remained firm.

He had come this far because of his young sister’s stubbornness, but Mok Ri-won was also a talent Paeng Do-wol coveted.

‘I cannot let anyone else claim the Ink Sword.’

More precisely, no one else could be allowed to claim him.

His swordsmanship, and the talent he possessed, were so dazzling that Paeng Do-wol wanted the Paeng Clan to claim him if possible.

Besides, he and his younger sister were only three years apart in age.

She had little interest in martial arts, and her inner power was shallow, but she was still a child of the Paeng Clan.

If the martial talent in her blood joined with Mok Ri-won’s martial talent, a hero capable of leading the next generation might be born.

In the strangely tense atmosphere, someone Paeng Do-wol did not wish to see, and Mok Ri-won had been waiting for, appeared.

“Greetings, Great Hero Paeng.”

It was Dang Hwa-seo.

An icy light like eternal snow rested on her face.

Her gaze, cold enough to freeze someone to death, was directed at Paeng Ji-wol.

“Eek!”

Paeng Ji-wol hid behind Paeng Do-wol.

Paeng Do-wol sighed as though he found the situation regrettable, then returned Dang Hwa-seo’s greeting.

“It has been a long time.”

“Yes. Six years.”

“I heard that you have formed a good relationship with Young Hero Mok...”

Paeng Do-wol’s mouth snapped shut.

It was because of Dang Hwa-seo’s eyes.

‘Does someone who knows that have to pull a stunt like this?’

Well, perhaps that was what it meant to be a daughter of the Tang Clan.

She could fire daggers with her eyes alone. It was enough to make one marvel.

“Do not look at me like that. I could not refuse my younger sister’s request either.”

Ignoring Paeng Ji-wol thumping his back, Paeng Do-wol continued.

“We will leave for today. Ink Sword, we shall meet again.”

He turned away.

Paeng Ji-wol stared at Mok Ri-won with longing in her eyes, then shrank beneath Dang Hwa-seo’s glare and trailed after her brother.

* * *

Dang Hwa-seo’s interference continued.

Starting with the Hebei Paeng Clan, one of the pillars of the Five Great Noble Clans, she busily ran about day after day to drive off the various families and sects ruling their regions, and even escort agencies and merchants.

All because they were drooling over the name Ink Sword.

‘Why am I...?’

Why was she doing this?

The question rose in her mind from time to time, yet for some reason, she never considered stopping.

It was because Dang Hwa-seo, petty as she was, lacked the courage to look honestly at her own heart.

She continued to drive away those seeking Mok Ri-won and focus on her personal training.

Then, on the night two days before the semifinals, Dang Hwa-seo met someone she did not wish to see.

“It has been a long time, Young Clan Head.”

Under dim moonlight, a group emerged from an alley.

There were five martial artists with refined auras.

At their head stood...

“...Dang Un-gyeong.”

Her half-brother, Dang Un-gyeong.

Dang Hwa-seo’s expression hardened.

Dang Un-gyeong did not lose his smile as he walked forward and stopped directly before her.

“Did you enjoy your travels?”

“...”

“I was quite surprised. The Young Clan Head, who had concealed her whereabouts all this time, suddenly appeared at the Dragon Phoenix Gathering. And Pyo San returned in such a state.”

His words were almost a whisper.

Yet they carried an unmistakable rebuke.

Dang Hwa-seo looked at Dang Un-gyeong and the martial artists behind him with cold eyes.

‘...Yes, it was about time they came.’

Every one of them besides Dang Un-gyeong was a martial artist of the Peak Realm.

They were the elite of the Sichuan Tang Clan.

Had they come to drag her back?

‘No.’

That could not be their purpose.

Given the Family Head’s temperament, the Family Head would not have her brought back in such a public place. Their purpose had to be something else.

‘Persuasion, or a threat.’

Which would it be?

“Get to the point.”

“Ah, even as siblings, you are truly cold.”

“Were we ever close? I did not know. While I endured such suffering under the Family Head, you only laughed and sneered.”

“I was expressing affection.”

“To express affection while watching someone suffer. I did not know my little brother was insane.”

Dang Un-gyeong’s eyebrow rose slightly.

His sly-looking expression became somewhat more vicious.

“Has this running away from home not gone on long enough?”

“Is that a threat?”

“Hmm, persuasion.”

Dang Un-gyeong straightened.

Then, his smile deepened as he continued.

“The Family Head is very pleased. The Family Head said there had been no expectation that the Young Clan Head, who had left home, would get her hands on such an extraordinary person.”

“...What?”

“Ink Sword.”

Dang Hwa-seo’s breath stopped.

Dang Un-gyeong continued.

“Splendid. As expected, you did it for the clan, Young Clan Head. The Family Head wishes to see the Ink Sword as soon as possible. It had been so long since the Family Head smiled so broadly. Ah, my ears are still ringing. The Family Head was so delighted, saying that if the Young Clan Head and the Ink Sword were together, the Tang Clan’s name would stand highest in the coming era of the Martial World.”

Dang Hwa-seo felt stunned by his shamelessness.

“The Family Head? You mean the Family Head?”

“You should address the Family Head respectfully.”

“That mad old fool spoke of Young Hero Mok and me in that way?”

Dang Hwa-seo let out a hollow laugh.

For an instant, her mind became strangely cold.

The hatred she had held down so tightly surged from within and clamped around her throat.

“How could the Family Head possibly have the nerve to say such things?”

Dang Hwa-seo took a step forward.

Dark green Qi Waves began to spill out around her.

“This is too much. Was it not the Family Head who planted those Qi Waves within you, Young Clan Head? How can you say such...”

“Yes, the Family Head planted this in me. Though I never wanted it.”

Before this day came, Dang Hwa-seo had thought that perhaps the Tang Clan would not come looking for her.

Perhaps seeing Pyo San return in that condition had finally made them understand her feelings.

Perhaps they had finally felt guilt.

‘How soft I have become.’

After spending time with Mok Ri-won, even her heart had softened enough to entertain hopeful thoughts.

“You rotten bastards.”

Dang Hwa-seo glared at Dang Un-gyeong and the martial artists behind him.

Her eyes were filled with hatred and covered in curses.

“If it were not for this damned Immunity to Ten Thousand Poisons, I would have forgiven the Family Head.”

Dang Hwa-seo could not forgive the Sichuan Tang Clan.

Not simply because they had made her childhood miserable, but for reasons that went far beyond that alone.

“I truly cannot understand it. How can the Family Head say something like that to me?”

Dang Hwa-seo took another step forward.

Only then did Dang Un-gyeong wipe the smile from his face and look down at her coldly.

His gaze filled Dang Hwa-seo with such resentment that she said,

“After my future was stolen from me, after even the chance to have a child was taken from me, how can you speak of tying me to a man?”

The truth she finally spoke with her own mouth was heavy.

And shameful.

Poison, not blood, ran through Dang Hwa-seo’s veins.

Poisons filled her body so completely that nothing but poison could take root within it.

That was why Dang Hwa-seo could not forgive the Tang Clan.

As the atmosphere turned grim, Dang Un-gyeong spoke.

“...What is there that you cannot do?”

“What?”

“What is there that you cannot do, I ask?”

Dang Hwa-seo’s face went blank.

With that cold expression, Dang Un-gyeong fired words sharpened into daggers.

“Young Clan Head, there are many wenches in the Tang Clan. Wenches who can bear children.”

“What are you...”

“There are women who can take Ink Sword’s seed in your stead. Everyone in the Tang Clan will turn a blind eye. Would it not be enough for you to raise that child as your own?”

Thump.

Dang Hwa-seo felt as though her heart had stopped.

No, it was not only her heart.

Every organ in her body seemed to stop moving at those words.

If there was a way to kill a person with words, it would be exactly this.

If there was a cruelty capable of crushing even the smallest hope, it would be exactly this.

Dang Hwa-seo looked at Dang Un-gyeong.

In her eyes, the man before her no longer appeared to be kin, nor did he appear human.

That was why she could find no words to refute him.

There was no speaking with something that was not human. She could only feel an agonizing pain tearing through her chest.

The Qi Waves faded.

Her thoughts scattered.