studiobondurri Chapter 83: The Sword Dance (1)
Chapter 83: The Sword Dance (1)
Chapter 83: The Sword Dance (1)
After so many winters had passed that she could no longer remember how cold that winter had been, Soh Baekhyang caught her first glimpses of the Mind Sword. As she slowly grasped it, she was no longer called the scent of snow[1] but the Demonic Heaven[2]. The woman who used to be Soh Baekhyang was now the Heavenly Demon.
“... I see it...” she muttered. “This is the realm that no martial artist has ever set foot in. It’s right in front of me... It seems as far away as Nirvana... But if I can see it, there is no reason I can’t go...”
The Heavenly Demon’s heart pounded. Mind Sword was a level that only existed in legend. When a martial artist of a certain lofty level harbored the will to kill, their target died immediately. There was no need for a sword or words. That very level was right before her.
“Lady Heavenly Demon...”
“Our supreme heaven...”
If only... if only she had time, perhaps sixty years, to focus solely on her cultivation... If only she could do that...
“Please relieve me from this resentment...”
People kneeled before her.
“The government wants us to pay our taxes in marten skins, so my father went out to hunt them. But he never returned...”
“My taxes are based on the number of people in my family, but I can’t pay the taxes...”
“My grandmother said that since she doesn’t have much time left in her life anyway, she’ll leave the house so the taxes will be reduced...”
“Lady Heavenly Demon...”
Many people kneeled in front of her.
“There was a drought last year, and this year too. There’s nothing to eat, so I’ve been starving. But the government gave an order to build a reservoir and a dam. They say it’s to prevent a drought next year, but how am I supposed to pile rocks after not eating anything for so long...”
“My daughter was taken away and hasn’t come back...”
“Lady Heavenly Demon...”
There were a lot of people who kneeled in front of her.
The Heavenly Demon quietly looked up at the snowy mountain. If only she had sixty years to devote solely to her training, she would reach a level that no one had ever reached in the history of martial arts. That was an indisputable truth, but... nevertheless...
“...Guide me.” The Heavenly Demon stood up with her sword in her hand. The hem of her dark robe fluttered behind her. “...There are a myriad of things I must slay...”
Should she abandon the world? Or should she forsake her personal desires? It was a simple choice for her. She abandoned her desires. Her life had always been about abstaining from the desire to achieve more in the martial arts.
On that day, she slayed those who made the world cold again, but she still failed to cut through the winter.
***
—It’s outrageous for a martial artist to ask another person to speak for him in a Verbal Match. There’s nothing more rude than that. It’s so rude that it will be remembered in the history of gangho and be laughed at for a long time.
The Guardian politely kneeled, which I had never seen him doing. I realized that it was his way of expressing his respect to someone whom he recognized as a worthy rival.
—Even though I’m aware of what will happen, I have no choice but to ask you for a Verbal Match regardless. The Guardian looked straight at Teacher. My title is Sword Emperor. I was acknowledged as the best in the world known as the Ten Thousand Sword Realm. Excuse my rudeness, but I challenge you to a Verbal Match with me.
And he bowed.
“Gong-Ja?” Teacher blinked. “What are you waiting for? Tell me the first form you’re going to use. The match has already begun.”
Obviously, Teacher couldn’t see or hear the Guardian, so his respect was lost to her.
“...Teacher.”
“What’s wrong?”
“You know that I can use strange sorcery.”
“Are you talking about the sorcery that brought my children and the Righteous Path jiangshi back to themselves?” Teacher laughed. The sound was quiet, as if it could disappear at any moment. “I’ve decided not to ask you anything. Besides, silence is a virtue. I just believe you’re a herald sent by the Jade Emperor, who took pity on me.”
She rested her head on my thighs, smiling. Whenever she laughed, her head shook a little. That was how I could feel her getting lighter and lighter. Her time was running out, so I had to be brief.
“...I have one more sorcery that I can use,” I quietly said. “I can summon a ghost.”
“Hmm?”
“The ghost next to me right now happens to have a very profound understanding of martial arts. He was known as the best in outer murim.”
“Aha, the best in the outer murim! That is amazing.” Teacher chuckled. She clearly thought that it was a funny joke. “Alright. It’s the ghost of the best martial artist in outer murim that my disciple summoned, so I should pay attention to him as well. I’ll gladly acknowledge him as my opponent in a Verbal Match.”
I looked at the Guardian, who was silently waiting on his knees.
“So, what form will this ghost of the best martial artist in outer murim show me first?”
“...He said he’ll let you go first, Teacher.”
“Hmm?”
“He said that he’ll let you make three attacks first.”
The smile on Teacher’s face faltered a little. “That is awfully arrogant. My disciple would never say such things. I’m sure this foolish ghost doesn’t know his place. I’ll stab his suwol acupoint using the Emerging Dragon Swift Sword, the fifth form of the Cloud Dragon Twelve Swords.”
This was the first exchange.
—After using the sixth form of the Earthly Dragon Baton Dance, the Summerwinter Dragon, as a feint, I take a step back with the Flowing Cloud Movement, the Guardian responded without a moment’s hesitation.
I didn’t know what the Cloud Dragon Twelve Swords or the Earthly Dragon Baton Dance were. All I knew was the Demonic Heaven Arts. I just calmly delivered the Guardian’s messages so that their fight could continue.
“After using the sixth form of the Earthly Dragon Baton Dance, the Summerwinter Dragon, as a feint, he takes a step back with the Flowing Cloud Movement.”
“Hmm...” Teacher narrowed her eyes. “I’ll send him flying using Assimilation Strike Leg, the seventh form of Profound Void Tai Chi.”
No, I was very angry.
“I’ll apply the mechanism of the Thousand Heaven Dance to twist your arm, slowing you down. And then I’ll take four steps back with the Heavenly Demon Descent Step!”
—Uh-oh—you've already retreated three steps and yet you’re taking another four steps backward. You’ve got your tail between your legs now! I’ll get closer using the Flowing Cloud Movement until I’m a step away from you, and then I’ll mix my aura into the Midsummer Waterfall to unleash it.
“Hahahaha! The Midsummer Waterfall infused with your aura? You’re done figuring out my style, huh? I’ll bewitch and pull you in with Thirst Death. Then I’ll immediately hold the sword in reverse and use the first to third forms of the Sand-Drilling Dragon. I’ll pierce your tianzhu, dazhui, shenzhu meridians one by one!”
I couldn’t understand the fight that the two were having. It was impossible to even imagine what it looked like. I knew what Thirst Death was, but I didn’t understand what the Sand-Drilling Dragon was. While I had heard about the Lazy Donkey Roll, I didn’t know what the Life and Death Ring of the Divine Chariot Wheel Spin was. Because of my severe lack of depth, I wasn’t even allowed to create the crudest picture of it in my head. I couldn’t see how their swords were moving nor what their sword dance was like at all.
—There you go! That’s more like it. Alright! I apply the Life and Death Law to the Wave-Connecting Butterfly so I can dodge it. And then I’ll take a step back, getting ready to use the Heavenly Tai Chi Sword!
“Not bad. Not bad at all!”
If... If possible, I want to be your match and your only hope. I wish I was the sole reason you can spend the end of your life rejoicing. But I can’t see it.
I dug my fingers into the snow. All I could see and hear was...
“Good. I’ll avoid it using the exquisite principle of the ■■ Movement.”
—I’ll counter that with the ■■■ Sword, the third form of the ■■■ Sutra!
That was it. I couldn’t see how their swords moved.
“Okay, I’ll choose the ■■ Leg, the second form of the ■■■, to respond.”
—I’ll stay close using the ■■■ Method of the ■■■■!
I couldn’t understand it.
“Fine. I’ll strike your ■■ and ■■ with the ■■■■ Sword of the ■■■■!”
—Impatient. Someone is getting impatient. I dodge that with ■■■■ and then aim for the neck using ■■■■.
“I parry that away and then strike ■■■ with ■■■■■, the tenth form of ■■■■!”
—I’ll ■■. And then I ■■■■■ using ■■■■. After counterattacking, swing ■■, the ■■■■■’s ■■■ ■■, and ■■.
“■■■■, ■■■, ■■■ and ■■■...”
The realm that the two of them fought in was so far away and dark.
“After counterattacking, then...”
Just then, Teacher looked up at me, breathing hard. It suddenly felt like time had stopped. her dark gaze lingered on my face.
“...Yes.” Teacher smiled faintly. “My disciple, it’s a cold day.
“It’s been winter all year long, so this place is now an everlasting snowfield. A snowfield is a harsh battleground for martial artists. When they do so much as take a step forward, their feet will sink deep into the snow, so they always have to use the foot arts.” Teacher touched the snowfield. The fluffy snowflakes clung to her fingertips.
“That is why you have to focus on unbalancing your opponent’s form, my disciple. Do you understand? There is no need to insist on snapping the opponent’s neck or slashing their waist. Just keep attacking them so that they won’t have any time to use their foot art.
“That is why your ghost and I are trying to take away each other’s space. We’re reducing each other’s range of movement.”
Teacher.
“We’re using various kicks for the same purpose. It’s not just to hit the opponent—snow is scattered every time we throw our kicks, so we’re using it to block each other’s vision. It’s a truly desperate fight, isn’t it...?”
Teacher’s whispering rang around my ears.
“Close your eyes.” Teacher slowly covered my eyes using her left hand. “I can see the opponent.”
“...I see.” I nodded.
“He’s a strong and profound master martial artist. His physique is very large. I believe he’s almost twice as big as me. Isn’t that right?”
I pictured the Guardian in my head. “That is right.”
“A master martial artist who resembles a giant bear is breathing heavily. He is smiling confidently, taunting me to come at him. There is a big difference in our physiques, so he has a good reason for his confidence...”
As Teacher continued to whisper, the Guardian’s image in my head became clearer.
“I can’t overcome the difference in our innate physiques, so I’ll accept it. But I recall my strengths. I’ll be able to move faster than him. Above all, I am used to the snowfield, so I’ll be able to demonstrate Traceless Snow better than him...”
“Yes, you will,” I responded.
“Do you see it, my disciple? I’m trying to drag this battle on as long as possible. Oh, but he sees through my plan,” Teacher playfully continued. “He’s moving more impatiently and quicker with his sword. Like a wild boar, he rushes toward me...”
Soon...
“But there’s no need to be afraid. I expected him to come, so I’ll back away lightly... to draw him in.”
I could see the scene unfolding in front of me.
“I continue to back away. My steps are as light as a feather. On the other hand, he’s truly like a wild boar. He rushes toward me, sending snow flying in all directions...”
Winter went on and on, turning the snowfield everlasting. Teacher backed away through it as the Guardian came charging at her.
Teacher’s smile never went away.
“...A flower of snow blooms and flies with every step we take.”
I could also see their swords now.
1. What Baekhyang's name means ☜
2. The meaning of Heavenly Demon ☜