15 - The Heaven-Slaying Sword

〈 Chapter 15 〉 The Village Chief - Emerging in Jianghu, and the Bewitching Maiden (9) * * * The swift dismantling of the One Wheel Society was as rapid as a blink of an eye. It was, after all, somewhat expected. The society's leader, Kang Byeok-un, was but a feeble figure on the brink of reaching First rate level at best, and stood no chance against the combined might of Hwa Seo's First rate bodyguards and Mok Liwon, a martial artist in the Peak Realm. Leaving the subdued One Wheel Society behind, Mok Liwon returned to a peaceful corner of Kyunghwalou and sat down in a cross-legged position. He was consolidating the insights gained from his duel with Pyo San. 'Seongryun has ascended to a complete third star.' The energy of the Seongryunsingong within him invoked the image of three distinct stars. Reflecting on the fact that the third star was still faint when he first set out into the martial world, this alone made the duel quite rewarding. It was certainly an achievement to be celebrated. However, as Mok Liwon opened his eyes after balancing his chi, his expression was far from content. '...I haven’t entirely suppressed my bloodlust.' That unsettling thought continued to trouble him. Despite 11 years of rigorous training, never missing a day since he began learning martial arts earnestly, his reason blurred at the sight of blood. One could question why he failed to control his bloodlust after all this time, but in another sense, it could be attributed to the inherently malicious nature of the Heavenly Slaughter Star’s flaw. Mok Liwon recalled Ma Ilsuk’s advice. - Once you engage in real combat in Jianghu, you’ll feel an even stronger impulse than you have thus far. The malice in a moment when lives are on the line is of a different magnitude than what you've felt in sparring with your brother. Indeed, Ma Ilsuk's words rang true. Every moment presented a killing intent that aimed for his life. And the tenacious, negative emotions clung tightly. All these experiences were new stimuli Mok Liwon had never encountered before. "Inhale...!" Mok Liwon took another breath. Shaking off the rising gloom, he stood up. 'I'll just need to be more careful moving forward.' Though he had postponed acknowledging it while chastising himself, considering the outcome, it was true he hadn't let his bloodlust ruin the situation—half a success at least. If he continued on this path, he would eventually suppress the Heavenly Slaughter Star entirely. Mok Liwon kept up his optimistic thoughts and forced a smile. With that, he started walking. 'It's time to visit her.' He remembered seeing a worried expression upon returning—she would need comfort. How warming it is to have someone by your side in difficult times. Surely, offering words of consolation would bring a bright smile to Hwa Seo's face. As Mok Liwon hurriedly made his way to the top floor of the pavilion, his heart pounded at his delightful thoughts. And then he heard something that made him question his ears. * "You mean to sell the pavilion?!" The top floor of Kyunghwalou. Mok Liwon exclaimed in disbelief, nearly knocking a chair over with his urgent question. Hwa Seo, watching Mok Liwon discard the impressive demeanor he had displayed earlier and revert to his nonsensical antics, responded with a smile playing at her lips. "Yes, there is no longer any reason for me to stay here." "Why, why would you do that? There's nothing troubling you anymore! You only have happiness ahead of you...!" Mok Liwon's perplexity was understandable. After defeating the villains and securing the pavilion, it seemed all his efforts were for naught now. What could possibly be her reason for such a decision? Hwa Seo answered his curiosity once more. "I have matters to attend to." "Matters?" "Yes, tasks I’ve been avoiding out of fear, forever running away from. You might call them obligations." A shiver ran through Mok Liwon's fingers. "Obligations...?" "As you know, I am a martial artist, and not just any martial artist—I am at quite a high level. Didn’t you ever wonder why someone like me would be running a pavilion in this manner?" Of course, he had been curious. When he first sought out Hwa Seo, he had indeed questioned the circumstances. However, after learning more about her, that curiosity had dissipated. "...I merely thought there must be some personal reasons." "If you overlook things so easily, it might come back to haunt you later. Cultivate a habit of questioning more." "..." "Anyway, so with that reason in mind, I am done running. I am selling the pavilion because of that." With those words, Hwa Seo looked at Mok Liwon. His handsome face struggling with confusion was a picture in itself. Momentarily amused by her thoughts, Hwa Seo cast them aside, stood up from her seat, and spoke to him. "Thank you, Sir Hero." "Uh, um...?" "Thanks to you, I’ve gathered the courage. Without you, I might have spent my life running or hanging my neck in failure." Hwa Seo clasped her hands together in a martial salute. Her upright stance, one palm covering her fist as she dipped her head slightly, was a picturesque scene. "I always thought I was pursuing practical gain, but now I realize I was merely making excuses for myself. It’s you, Sir Hero, who helped me realize that." "My lady..." "You are my benefactor who taught me the meaning of justice." Hwa Seo had always disliked the Sichuan Tang Family. Its people, its ironclad rules, its culture. She denied all of it, yet even so, she accepted at least half of one tenet from her family’s rules. 'Repay kindness twofold.' Grudges could be dealt with in due time, but the principle of repaying kindness twofold was something she could empathize with. Mok Liwon felt a mixture of awkwardness and pride as he watched Hwa Seo salute him with a martial gesture. Within him stirred an emotion akin to fulfillment—an overwhelming sense of achievement from having influenced someone’s life. 'Sir Hero...' That sense of achievement from having acted in a way that befitted that word swelled Mok Liwon's heart. Feeling embarrassed, Mok Liwon scratched the back of his head. He gazed into the air and nibbled on his lips before finally mirroring her gesture with his very own martial salute. --- **New Terms:** 1. **Kyunghwalou (경화루)**: A fictional location, translated directly to retain its original essence. It could also translate into "Pavilion of Fragrant Blossoms" which captures its likely cultural and aesthetic connotations. 2. **Seongryunsingong (성련신공)**: A martial arts technique Mok Liwon practices. It's translated as "Seongryun Divine Art" to convey its grandeur and spiritual nature. Alternate translations could include "Sacred Lotus Divine Art" which aligns with the common practice of equating 'Seongryun' with 'Lotus(es).' 3. **Pyo San (표산)**: A character mentioned who Mok Liwon previously dueled. His name is retained in its original form as it is a proper noun. Alternate translations might include "Marker Mountain," though it's important to note that personal names are typically not translated literally. 4. **Sir Hero (소협)**: An honorary term for a benevolent martial artist or righteous hero in the Jianghu. Translated to "Sir Hero" to emphasize Mok Liwon’s valorous deeds. Literal translation might simply be "young hero" or "little hero." “I only did what needed to be done!” Mok Liwon chuckled, feeling as though he had just participated in a grand, dramatic moment. Hwa Seo, unable to help herself, let out a soft laugh and then asked him a question. “Where will you go now, Sir Hero?” “Hm? Me?” “Yes, you did say you ventured into Jianghu to pursue righteous deeds. Surely you’ve set a destination?” Mok Liwon’s lips clamped shut, and a tremor began in his pupils as if an earthquake struck within them. ‘I don’t have one….’ He had merely assumed that once he wandered into Jianghu, destinations would present themselves. He planned to visit some renowned scenic spots he'd heard of from Mok Seon-oh and Ma Ilsuk. In the worst-case scenario, if lost, he had accounted for using the Beggars’ Union token that Ma Ilsuk had given him. Consequently, he hadn’t made plans beyond that. Mok Liwon’s body tensed with a visible reaction of surprise. Just from his demeanor, Hwa Seo could ascertain the answer. A look of disbelief passed over Hwa Seo’s face. “…You have no plans?” “Well…” “You stepped into Jianghu without any direction?” There should be a limit to naivety—what faith did his masters place in him to release him into the world like this? Hwa Seo wondered at this perplexing situation, but the same could be said for Mok Liwon’s two masters who hadn’t anticipated this. After all, they resided deep in the mountainous regions of Jiangxi Province. There, tasks were routine, changing little year upon year. Mok Liwon, adept at managing the mountain routines, was expected to handle himself capably beyond as well. Given that, his masters thought that Mok Liwon, resourceful as he was, would manage in Jianghu. “Sir Hero…?” “...I intended to go wherever my feet take me.” The excuse was flimsy. Hwa Seo felt a surge of anxiety at his reply. Would this naive and guileless man end up swindled somewhere? No, even worse, perhaps he’d be sold into servitude for no reason other than his handsome face. ‘In the worst-case scenario…’ Would he drift aimlessly and perish in some remote mountain? A chill ran through Hwa Seo’s entire body. Her face drained of color. It was as if she were imagining a child left unattended by the water’s edge. ‘I cannot…!’ I can’t let him go alone. Driven by such thoughts, Hwa Seo made a suggestion to Mok Liwon. “Then would you like to accompany me?” “With you, my lady?” “Yes, if you have no immediate plans, why not join me?” Speaking nonchalantly, in her mind's eye, Mok Liwon was already a corpse. The reason she made this offer was simple. ‘I need to accompany him and try to instill at least some common sense.’ If her benefactor ended up in servitude or perished in a remote area, her peace of mind would be forever disturbed. Considering this reasoning, Mok Liwon inquired further. “Where are you headed, my lady?” “First to Anhui, then to Henan.” “Henan, you say…” “The Shaolin Temple.” Mok Liwon inhaled sharply. A gleam sparkled in his eyes. Hwa Seo scoffed at his reaction. ‘...I knew it.’ Mok Liwon, who revered the "Chronicles of The Jianghu Heroes" almost as a religion, would naturally find Shaolin Temple, always depicted as a bastion of righteousness in the tales, incredibly enticing. However, it’s better to firmly secure his interest. Hwa Seo sought to ignite Mok Liwon’s innocent enthusiasm once more. “There’s someone I have to meet at the Shaolin Temple. And there’s a significant reason to stop by Anhui.” “Anhui!” “Yes, the very Anhui, home to the Namgung Family, one of the Five Great Families.” “That’s right! The Anhui where Sword King Namgung Hyuk resides!” Mok Liwon had now kneeled on the floor. Hwa Seo nodded in confirmation and added more. “We’re approaching the end of spring. Around this time, there’s always an event within the Orthodox Murim.” “Orthodox…! Spring…! Event…!” Mok Liwon’s face became more deeply colored with anticipation. Hwa Seo thought, ‘Is it this easy to sway him?’ as she delivered the final words that would set Mok Liwon’s heart pounding. “Dragon and Phoenix Assembly (용봉지회). It will be held in Anhui this year.” That did it. Boom—! Mok Liwon prostrated himself on the ground, his head touching the floor. Then, in a voice that could only be described as beseeching, he pleaded. “Please take me with you!!!” Dragon and Phoenix Assembly (龍鳳之會). A grand meeting where young outstanding figures from distinguished Orthodox Murim families gathered to discuss martial arts. An event steeped in the martial arts and justice that Mok Liwon yearned for. Hwa Seo, looking at the rounded back of Mok Liwon’s head at her feet, smiled. “I look forward to your company.” * It didn’t take long to settle the affairs of the pavilion. Just the fact that it was the largest pavilion in Jiangxi Province, now free of the One Wheel Society’s influence, made it highly desirable property. If she had moved more cautiously, she could have sold it for a substantial amount. However, for Hwa Seo, time was of the essence over a few coins, so she quickly sold Kyunghwalou for the price she had initially bought it, and set out on her journey. As the road led them out of Xiangyang County, Hwa Seo gazed back at the distant sight of the county, lost in reflection. ‘My flight ends here.’ She had once thought to live her life in hiding. But seeing that it changed nothing, confronting things head-on seemed the better path. The Tang family was relentless and possessed a terrifying cunning that spared nothing. ‘I, too...’ To confront them, she would need a similar resolve. Hwa Seo’s eyes shone with a chilling intensity. An eye for an eye. No hesitation would be permitted in facing them. “Xiang-ah, it’s time we part.” Hwa Seo’s gaze shifted to the retainers that had escorted her until now. They listened intently, their heads bowed in respect. “Please, while I travel to the Shaolin Temple, monitor the activities of the family.” “As you command.” There was no need for lengthy words. The loyal retainers, ever protective of Hwa Seo, stepped back with those words alone. However, one remained. Xiang, her most trusted confidant, was still at her side. As Hwa Seo was about to leave, she offered one last piece of advice to the departing party. “Make sure to take good care of yourself.” “That’s easy for you to say! Isn’t Sir Mok leaving with you?” At the mention of “Sir Mok,” Mok Liwon beamed and nodded eagerly. “Leave it to me!” These were words Xiang couldn't say aloud, but the truth was, her worry stemmed from not trusting him. Silently seeing him off, Xiang simply sighed and offered a final farewell. “I’ll take my leave. Letters…” “Yes, send them through the ‘Union’ as usual.” Xiang bowed deeply once more, then departed like the others. Now back to being alone with Hwa Seo, Mok Liwon, brimming with excitement, exclaimed, “Finally, we're off! Anhui! The Dragon and Phoenix Assembly! Just the thought of going there makes my heart pound!” “There won’t be much to expect—it’s just a gathering of young ones, after all.” “Aren’t you young too, my lady?” As he spoke, Mok Liwon realized that he didn’t even know Hwa Seo’s exact age. When he looked at her, Hwa Seo noticed his realization and chuckled. “Yes, I’m not that old. I’m twenty-two this year.” “Oh, so you’re my elder sister then!” “No need for such formalities.” Hwa Seo waved her hand dismissively. Mok Liwon, pleased to learn more about her, made a respectful martial salute. “Very well! I shall continue to call you Lady Yeonhwa!” Yeonhwa, indeed. ‘Come to think of it, she did use that name.’ Why did I think the owner of a pavilion would use her real name? Hwa Seo couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh at Mok Liwon’s innocence. She looked him straight in the eye and said, “It’s Hwa Seo.” “Hm?” “His real name is Hwa Seo. Yeonhwa was a fake name I used to run.” Mok Liwon’s mouth fell open, and a delayed sense of betrayal was written all over his face. ‘Amusing, isn’t it?’ No matter what is said, his responses were ever so entertaining—there was a certain delight in playfully teasing him. ‘I guess the journey won’t be dull.’ Hwa Seo entertained this thought and made a formal martial salute towards Mok Liwon. Then she formally introduced herself once more. “Let me introduce myself properly. I am Hwa Seo, Tang Hwaseo.” “Tang…?” A blank look spread across Mok Liwon's face. Hwa Seo, filled with a sense of satisfaction, strung together her next words. ‘I am Mok Liwon! Without an epithet yet!’ Though a childlike notion, she pondered how much he must care about such titles, and laughed as she continued. “Once, Jianghu called me Dokbong (Poisonous Phoenix).” And that’s how it went. Mok Liwon’s reaction was exactly as expected, and now vowing to stand firm as Tang Hwaseo, she let out the largest laugh of her life. With the journey initiated under the sound of clear laughter, Tang Hwaseo’s belief that it would be a delightful journey shattered spectacularly in less than three days. --- **New Terms:** 1. **Dokbong (독봉/毒鳳)**: Translated as "Poisonous Phoenix," this former martial alias of Tang Hwaseo suggests a formidable and perhaps feared presence in the martial world. It preserves the meaning of her past reputation linked with lethality and elegance. Alternate translations could be "Venom Phoenix" or "Deadly Phoenix," but "Poisonous Phoenix" captures the balance between deadliness and grace synonymous with a phoenix. 2. **Mok Liwon (목리원)**: Already retained as per given instructions, hence mentioned again to highlight no new constraints.