Thud.
As I watched from behind, Gayoung Jin stepped onto the dueling platform.
Though her body must be aching from all the rolling around she did yesterday, I couldn’t help but admire her tenacious figure.
“To Miss Moon Blossom and Miss Snow Flower, please face each other.”
“Go Moon Blossom!”
“Show us another fiery duel like yesterday!”
This was the second match of the Seven Flowers Battle.
The first day.
Today Gayoung Jin would compete against White Flower and Snow Flower for the 5th, 6th, and 7th rankings.
Given how much energy she expended in her previous match against Heavenly Flower, I didn’t have much hope for her today.
I simply wished for her to return safely without any serious injuries.
She’s an ambitious one – she must be yearning for victory despite everything.
“Well then, let the match begin.”
“Whooaaa-!”
The cheers from the crowd were louder than before, reflecting their high expectations for Gayoung Jin.
“Champion of the Heavens, Moon Blossom.”
“Divine Grace, Snow Flower.”
However, those cheers faded quickly once the match started.
Snow Flower was handily dominating Gayoung Jin without giving her any chance to counter.
There was nothing she could do about it.
While their martial arts abilities were fairly evenly matched…
…the aftereffects of the previous match were simply too much.
Snow Flower hadn’t even had the chance to be injured when she suffered a crushing defeat against Jade Flower.
White Flower had sustained some internal injuries from Namgung Su-a, but nothing compared to the numerous wounds Gayoung Jin had suffered in her all-out battle against Heavenly Flower.
“Ugh…”
Gayoung Jin’s fierce determination was no different from yesterday, so no one was blaming her.
All of us, including myself, could only watch helplessly with pitying eyes.
Her body just couldn’t keep up with her spirit and willpower.
Boom!
Crash!
In the end, Gayoung Jin suffered a humiliating defeat against Snow Flower.
I approached her as she sat down to catch her breath inside the Jin family tent after descending from the platform.
“Don’t rush yourself.”
“Ugh… Ah, sir…?”
“Don’t say anything. It’s more important for you to rest right now.”
I noticed her bandages, which I had carefully applied salve to yesterday, were turning red again through her clothing from the latest match.
“You’ve worked hard.”
“Haa… haa…”
“Dueling isn’t that important. Take the long view. I’m not saying you shouldn’t try your best – you’ve already done that. I just want to remind you not to push yourself too hard.”
“Sir.”
“Please don’t speak.”
As I wiped the sweat from her forehead with a cloth, she opened her mouth with difficulty.
“I’m not obsessed with the duels.”
“If that’s true, I’m relieved…”
“I just want to grasp the ‘essence of my martial arts’ that you mentioned. I thought I might find enlightenment just by engaging in more battles.”
“True, enlightenment often comes through dueling. When you fully unleash your martial arts against an opponent, you often discover things about yourself that you didn’t realize before. But you mustn’t harm your body. Remember, if you damage your body, it all becomes meaningless. You’re just chasing after empty glory.”
“I understand. I won’t overexert myself. That’s not something I desire anyway.”
At that moment, the match between White Flower and Snow Flower ended with Snow Flower’s victory.
Had White Flower won, the rankings would have been clear – White Flower, Snow Flower, Gayoung Jin – and today’s matches would have concluded.
But now, another match would have to take place between Gayoung Jin and White Flower.
To decide the 6th and 7th rankings.
“Hmm…”
I don’t think Gayoung Jin can defeat White Flower.
Though White Flower lost to Snow Flower, her condition is nowhere near as bad as Gayoung Jin’s.
– Are you worried?
– Yes.
– What exactly worries you?
– I’m uneasy.
– Is it your intuition speaking?
– I’m the type that blocks intuition.
– So your instincts are uneasy then?
…
Actually, I have no reason to be concerned for Gayoung Jin.
She’s not the type to neglect her own health.
Given that this is the Seven Flowers Battle and not a life-and-death duel, lethal techniques are strictly forbidden.
Still, for some strange reason, I can’t shake this feeling of unease.
“Miss Moon Blossom, please step up. This is the final match, so please give it your all.”
A Taoist from the Wu Tang Sect calls out to Gayoung Jin from outside the tent.
“Sir, I’ll be back.”
“Yes, I’ll be watching.”
“Ah, and, um…”
As she was about to get up, holding her knees, she came back to me and whispered into my ear.
Her warm breath on my ear was unexpected.
“Once this match is over… you remember what I said about confessing to you, right? You haven’t forgotten?”
Her face turning red, she twisted her fingers.
“Yes, I remember.”
“Make sure you don’t forget! Promise me!”
With that, she quickly ascended the dueling platform.
This was already her third time on the platform across yesterday and today.
Watching her stagger up with her body completely wrapped in bandages made my heart ache.
Creak…
The Moonlight Division on Gayoung Jin’s back looked heavier than usual today.
Perhaps that’s why it was leaving deep drag marks on the ground.
Crunch…
Following her, a girl in plum blossom-patterned clothing ascended from the opposite side.
The flower of Mount Hua Sect – White Flower.
…
After facing off against Gayoung Jin, White Flower whispered something to her.
I considered using my inner energy to eavesdrop, but quickly dismissed the thought as she had already returned to her position after saying just a few words.
“Hua Sect, White Flower.”
“Champion of the Heavens, Moon Blossom.”
Gayoung Jin gripped the Moonlight Division with both hands.
The end of the Moonlight Division was trembling slightly.
Unlike her, White Flower held the long, thin sword characteristic of Hua Sect steady.
Seven Flowers Battle, Day 1, Match 2.
“Shit… What am I doing having a duel with some rootless girl like you…”
White Flower’s irritated muttering reached Gayoung Jin’s ears.
Despite knowing there was an opponent right in front of her, there was no consideration in her muttering.
When Gayoung Jin furrowed her brow and shook her head in response, White Flower immediately glared back.
Since she was offended by how this Seven Flowers member, who wasn’t part of any of the Great Sects or Major Clans, looked down on her.
“Whatcha staring at, huh? Did I say something wrong? Aren’t you that rootless girl who sold your body to the elders of the Martial Arts Alliance and got their support?”
Taking her uncle’s spread rumors so openly hostile, Gayoung Jin let out a deep sigh before answering.
“That rumor started when I was fifteen. Do you really believe that nonsense, Miss White Flower? Your brain must be worse than noodles.”
“…”
I’ve matured, I guess. Hearing that kind of talk doesn’t anger me anymore.
It just makes me a bit irritated.
“Is this what you call a big mouth? Some unnamed lower-class woman like you…”
“Lower-class? I have a very clear name – Gayoung Jin. And what about you? I’ve only ever heard you called by your title. Do you even have a real name?”
“How dare you answer back! What kind of upbringing did you receive at Jin Family House? Did your parents teach you to be this insolent?”
“Speak more politely. How can a Taoist’s mouth be rougher than a commoner’s?”
“Oh right, you don’t have them, do you? Sorry, I forgot.”
“…”
“Let’s duel already. Take your weapon.”
Impressed by White Flower’s talent for reigniting one’s anger, Gayoung Jin drew the Moonlight Division.
It felt heavy.
She wanted nothing more than to split White Flower in two with the Moonlight Division right now, but it seemed unlikely.
Because her arms couldn’t take the strain after overusing her muscles from yesterday.
It was already a struggle to hold the Moonlight Division – what was she supposed to do?
‘No, it’s fine. I don’t have to win at all costs. I shouldn’t let my emotions consume me.’
Unlike her previous duels where she always took the initiative, Gayoung Jin now stood defensively, ready to wait.
Looking like a drowned rat, Gayoung Jin.
Taking this as a sign of fear, White Flower confidently charged forward.
Showing no consideration for her as a junior, White Flower immediately unleashed her Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique from the start.
Clang! Clang-!
The swords of Hua Sect specialize in speed and illusion.
Forced on the defensive, Gayoung Jin could only use the blade of the Moonlight Division as a shield.
Normally, she would have shattered such an attack with overwhelming power and violent force, but in her current state where even attacking was difficult, White Flower was the worst possible opponent.
Swoosh! Pop-!
“Ugh!”
With each sharp thrust of White Flower’s sword piercing through the gaps of the Moonlight Division, Gayoung Jin’s body twisted.
The more this happened, the more enthusiastically White Flower attacked, and soon Gayoung Jin was inevitably cornered.
“So, why don’t you keep your mouth shut? Don’t you feel embarrassed not having the skills?”
Using her position as someone with low self-esteem but high inferiority complex, White Flower was showing a deep sense of superiority against someone she perceived as weaker.
The fact that she’s wasting time talking instead of finishing the fight is one of the results of that.
Add to that, having lost every match since yesterday and receiving a scolding from her master Dokgo Gupae, this was her way of venting her frustration.
“You see, if your martial art is lowly, you should at least know how to play with your mouth. If you can’t do that, what good are you?”
The words of mockery from White Flower reached the ears of the Heavenly Lord, who furrowed his brow and pressed his forehead, but he had no right to intervene.
There’s no rule against talking during a duel.
“I heard your Moon Technique was taught to you by that person who’s always sticking around with you – what’s his name, the White Blade Wanderer?”
Continuing to mock Gayoung Jin without restraint, White Flower let slip the name of Byul Rak.
“…”
The unexpected word caused Gayoung Jin’s eyes to change.
Unaware of this, White Flower continued speaking without a care.
“Really, if you’re going to use a weapon, stick to one or the other. Both him and you are just creating trouble by pretending to use axes without knowing how to properly wield them. What good is teaching someone to use a weapon you can’t handle properly?”
“…”
“The sword isn’t called the ‘King of All Weapons’ for nothing, right? You know why you’re going to end up last, don’t you? Because you gave up the sword for that nonsense. Fooled by some false prestige, you abandoned the sword for an axe.”
“Shut up.”
“Girl, just what are you saying? Are you asking me to insult you? Because you don’t want me to insult that White Blade Wanderer? Then I’ll give him a good scolding too.”
“Hey you…!”
“Just by looking, I can see right through what you’re up to. Teaching martial arts and asking for what? Money? Or becoming some private power broker for the Taewon Jin Clan like the Ten Ministers? Or maybe… did he ask for your body?”
“Shut your mouth…!”
“Ah, so you did! How disgusting, what kind of man would ask that from someone as young as you? Is he some kind of Sword Sage?”
Snap.
Strength gathered in Gayoung Jin’s clenched hands.
An overwhelming anger rose from the depths of her heart.
It was strange – just moments ago, she was too exhausted to move a finger, yet now her entire body was filled with energy and her head was burning hot.
As if the explosive anger and murderous intent were transforming into internal energy.
“Hey, what’s this? Did I stumble onto something I shouldn’t have? What’s going on?”
Realizing the subtle change in Gayoung Jin’s gaze, White Flower lost her smile and asked seriously.
To which Gayoung Jin simply…
Whooom!!
Replied with a tremendous sonic boom never seen before.
“!”
Relaxing her guard, White Flower was startled and instinctively bent at the waist.
Kabooom-!
The handle of the Moonlight Division collided squarely with her.
Even though it wasn’t the blade but the shaft, it was made of the densest black iron.
A massive impact akin to receiving a blow from Shaolin Sect’s Hundred Steps Divine Fist overwhelmed White Flower.
“Kkkkhhhh…”
Tumbling…
Eventually, she was forced to use the Nareetagong technique to escape.
“Wha… What…?”
After rolling awkwardly on the ground several times, she hastily got up and looked around.
Not at Gayoung Jin, but at Dokgo Gupae and the audience.
Then the words slowly reached her ears.
“Ah, Nareetagong? Hmm, are they teaching that technique in Hua Sect these days?”
“Calling yourself White Flower while rolling around like that in the dirt? Look at your clothes!”
“Black Flower would suit you better. Are there no talented individuals in Hua Sect anymore?”
The same mocking and disdainful words she had just spoken.
“…This scum…”
‘No, this can’t be happening…!’
With panic-filled eyes, White Flower stared at Gayoung Jin.
Just moments ago, she was the Moon Blossom, Gayoung Jin, who was thoroughly teased by her.
‘Wha… What is this? How has her aura grown so much…?’
She had completely transformed, as if the earlier Gayoung Jin had been an illusion.
It wasn’t just White Flower who was confused.
‘Overwhelming power. How…?’
Even Gayoung Jin was surprised by the vast amount of internal energy surging through her body.
‘I don’t know. I don’t care. Right now…’
She had questions and confusion, but the desire to kill White Flower in front of her eyes was stronger, though she was suppressing it.
‘To call him a swindler? To associate him with the Ten Ministers? To label him as a mere Sword Sage? How dare you…’
Crack…
The Moonlight Division was pulled back with great force, and Gayoung Jin’s entire body muscles contracted strongly.
Like a bowstring about to be released with great elasticity.
The axe head was no longer trembling.
It wasn’t that ‘the axe’ had stopped trembling.
Rather, the ‘direction the axe was pointing toward’ – the target.
Even more fundamentally, this indicated that Gayoung Jin’s martial way (武路) had become clear.
Kooowaa-!
With a devastating sonic boom that seemed to tear the atmosphere apart, the Moonlight Division shot out.
Stunned by the overwhelming momentum, White Flower rolled out of the way again in shock.
Kuuuwaangh-!!!
An immense explosion occurred. White Flower could only look on in fear at the ferocious crescent energy that had obliterated the ground mere inches away from her without leaving a trace.
Swoosh- Grooo-…
Gayoung Jin pulled the Moonlight Division out. The weapon that had been deeply embedded in the ground came out effortlessly when she pulled.
As if they had formed a perfect unity.
‘A little itchy.’
Even after delivering a powerful strike, Gayoung Jin felt uneasy.
‘Something’s off.’
She actually knew what ‘something’ was, and why she felt uneasy.
‘That guy got insulted.’
She couldn’t bear the thought of Byul Rak being mocked by that ‘garbage’.
Suddenly, she remembered why she had started practicing martial arts.
Though it was from long ago, she instantly recalled upon reflecting for a moment.
The reason she had decided to learn martial arts was…
‘I wanted to be like that guy.’
Yes, exactly that.
‘To protect him, to protect the Sword Sage, that’s why I learned martial arts.’
Recalling one thing led to remembering others, like pulling sweet potatoes by the vine.
‘This is my martial path.’
At the end of it all, there was something all martial artists aspired for: the ultimate understanding.
‘That guy… called it ‘Guardian Emperor Sword Form’, didn’t he?’
Revealing her insight into her martial path.
‘I…’
With the power of ten thousand seas, an energy she had never experienced in her life surged through her. Though she had the ability to do anything, there was only one desire now.
‘To punish that person who dared insult him in front of me.’
To ‘teach them a lesson’ in a refined manner, though she really wanted to tear them apart.
‘Through him, for him.’
And as if it could, her spirit stabilized. The tasks she should undertake became crystal clear.
It was time for Moon Blossom, no longer as one of the Seven Flowers but as ‘that guy’s young miss’, to mete out punishment.
“Haaahaaa-!”
With a powerful war cry, she swung the Moonlight Division.
She never had the habit of shouting during fights, but it developed while practicing ax techniques. The habit will remain because Byul Rak compared it to a predator’s roar threatening its prey and liked it.
“No, stop! Don’t come!”
Even as White Flower desperately readied her sword, Gayoung Jin was certain.
This strike she was delivering would be impossible to block without injury.
“Nine Dragon Formation Breaker!”
“Plum Blossom Flying Every Which Way!”
KOOOOOM-!!
Crack… CRACK… CLANG!
Finally, the Moonlight Division clashed with White Flower’s plum blossom sword. After a short crackling sound, the sword shattered into pieces.
Though the blade was intact, the edge was completely broken.
“Wha- What? What’s going on…! This, this is supposed to be a cheap sword!”
Of course, it wasn’t some cheap sword. It was quite valuable, considered nearly a famous sword, something that only plum blossom swordmasters in Hua Sect were allowed to possess.
The fact that it was shattered without even leaving part of the blade showed how powerful Gayoung Jin’s single blow with the massive Moonlight Division was.
“This, this garbage! What am I supposed to do with just some cheap sword!”
Though she knew the truth, as the swordmaster, White Flower stepped back in great shock as she hollered loudly.
Ignoring the gazes of others that she always cared about.
“Why are you running away? The duel isn’t over yet.”
With cold, harsh, indifferent eyes that looked down on her like an insect. Her self-esteem was severely damaged, but…
“Aaah, no… I can’t lose…!”
“You can’t, huh? But in life, there are times you win and times you lose.”
“Ah, it’s not over yet… I haven’t lost… I haven’t lost yet…”
Realizing the spectators who saw her as a defeated warrior.
“If I lose this match… I really become the last place… And Sect Leader Master Dokgo said he’d remove me from the plum blossom swordmasters…”
“No…! You might have a family to rely on, but I have none!”
Her dignity crumbled instead of her self-esteem.
“I’m tired of it. Let’s finish this.”
Raising the Moonlight Division again, Gayoung Jin seemed ready to deliver her final attack.
White Flower hastily grabbed her sword from the ground in panic, though it was now useless, being broken.
“No, it’s not over yet…”
“I gained some insight in the final moments, and I feel like I’ve gained what I could from this extended battle in the Seven Flowers Contest.”
Thinking of ending all the battles in this long Seven Flowers Contest with this final move.
At that moment, something no one expected happened.
Sss-.
Purple sword qi shot up from White Flower’s sword.
Hwaah!
And immediately split into nine streams.
Kooaa-!
Divided into Nine Swords, they enveloped Gayoung Jin.
She didn’t even get the chance to swing the Moonlight Division.
Something White Flower herself had never intended.
“…”
Puuuk!
Gayoung Jin’s vision blurred.
At the same time, her abdomen grew warm.
Her knees buckled without strength.
“Wha…?”
A sword so famous that there was probably no martial artist in the land who didn’t know it was not supposed to appear in this Seven Flowers Contest.
And more importantly…
It was absolutely forbidden to appear in any form of duel – a killing technique (殺招).
“Wh- What have I done…”
Shaking like an aspen leaf, White Flower stepped back.
“No, why are you laying there… You won, right… I lost, didn’t I…”
Slop, slop…
“Come on, it’s a joke, right? Don’t joke around… Why are you… you laying there… Clearly it was… me…”
Continuing to stagger back, she finally saw it in her trembling pupils.
Her palms, covered in red blood.
“Ugh… Wh- What’s this… Why is there a hole in my stomach… Cough…”
Shiver-.
And the sword that had pierced through Gayoung Jin’s abdomen and was acting as a support was lost, falling uselessly to the ground.
Something finally dawning on her in her fading vision – the realization of deeds she couldn’t bear.
“MISS-!!!”
