19 - The Heaven-Slaying Sword

〈 Chapter 19: The Journey of the Three Monks, Ghost Valley (4) 〉 * * * The two followed the direction in which the girl had disappeared. Footprints and other traces were faint, and ahead lay a dense forest, but still, they walked. And then, they encountered zombies. Squelch— The staggering, hopping figures over the shriveled underbrush were undoubtedly those who once lived here. Their attire was too ragged and shabby to be considered as members of the Blood Heaven Sect or Murim Alliance martial artists. "Truly, they are zombies." Mok Liwon laughed bitterly. Spewing forth the breath-dissolving poison pill, he clutched his sword with one hand and spoke to Tang Hwaseo. "I am sorry for insisting." "It is fine. The reason I did not stop you until the end is because I also found merit in Young Master Mok's words." Tang Hwaseo said with a smile. Though she now faced foes once more, knowing she was right, she did not feel bad. "Still, is it not fortunate? There was no lost child in this place." Mok Liwon felt touched by Tang Hwaseo’s words. He chuckled quietly and stepped forward, speaking. "Stay back. I will handle this alone." "Are you sure?" "There aren’t as many as you worry. Nor do they seem strong." There were a total of fifteen zombies. Their movements were so straightforward and sluggish that even a second-rate martial artist could handle them with ease. Indeed, just as Mok Seon-oh had once said. "They have no qi. We must let them rest now." They were terribly weak. * Swwiish— Mok Liwon sliced through the neck of the foremost approaching zombie. It was a simple horizontal cut, devoid of any technique or refinement. Yet, the zombie’s neck was severed cleanly. Another attack aimed at his back. Once again, Mok Liwon twisted his body with minimal movement, cutting through the neck. Swwiish— Mok Liwon’s expression remained calm. No, it would be more accurate to say he bore a hint of sadness. There was one reason. For the first time since learning the sword, as he fought for his life— '…There is none.' The reason the opponent didn’t emit killing intent. It was not because they were adept at hiding their killing aura. It literally meant they had no will to kill anyone. They merely lunged mechanically at any opponent within range, then collapsed, repeatedly. Whose intention this was, Mok Liwon did not know. Nor did he know why they were abandoned here. Mok Liwon found this sorrowful. —Even if they were such pitiful beings, the world does not heed the voice of the weak. As Mok Seon-oh had said, their cries reached no one, and that was deeply sad. Swwiish— The head of the last zombie fell. Mok Liwon steadied his breath. So vast was the difference in skill that he hadn't even needed to sweat a drop. Having completed all tasks, Mok Liwon sheathed his sword and bowed his head. Eyes closing slowly, he conveyed words silently. ‘Rest now.’ It was a silent prayer. Now, only silence remained within the tangled underbrush. Mok Liwon engaged deeply in his silent vigil before eventually opening his eyes. ‘Master, I think I understand a bit now.’ Thus, he answered an inner query that had resided within him for quite some time. An unwavering answer without hesitation. —Why must a hero be a martial artist? ‘Because the voices of the weak do not reach.’ —For what cause does one become a hero? ‘To represent their voices.’ Therefore, the path to take. ‘Is to ensure that fewer succumb due to weakness.’ It still lay in heroism. * Tang Hwaseo quietly observed the entire process. The situation ended so easily, she wondered if it was truly permissible to be this simple, leaving her without words, simply waiting for Mok Liwon to finish his mindfulness. During that moment. Thump— Mok Liwon fell to his side. "…Young Master!" Tang Hwaseo rushed to him, assessing his condition. His face was pale. He exhaled in heavy, ragged breaths, and his eyebrows trembled slightly. What was happening all of a sudden? As she pondered the thought, one fact she had forgotten came crashing back. ‘The breath-dissolving poison pill!’ Ever since the battle, Mok Liwon had not been biting into the breath-dissolving poison pill. ‘What a fool…!’ Her words chastised both Mok Liwon, who had not bitten the pill, and herself, for not noticing. It was unavoidable. Blood Valley was a land steeped in poison and malevolent qi. No matter how much of a Peak Realm martial artist Mok Liwon was, enduring such a place bare-bodied was an arduous task. This was clearly a sign of poisoning. Tang Hwaseo reached for his satchel. First, she needed to give him a new breath-dissolving poison pill to prevent further poisoning. However, Tang Hwaseo's expression quickly crumpled as she rummaged through the satchel. ‘It’s gone.’ The one before was the last breath-dissolving poison pill. ‘Did he hide it?’ He had concealed it from her. The reason was not hard to discern. He must have insisted, knowing it was time to return. Believing the task at hand more crucial than the poison spreading through his body. A foolish and reckless choice, yet one that was characteristic of him. ‘Damn it…!’ It was the worst possible decision. Tang Hwaseo quickly strategized. ‘How…?’ She scanned her surroundings. This was the heart of Blood Valley. Even with quick strides and techniques, it would take at least half a day to escape due to the distance from the outside. Running out immediately was the right choice, but there was no guarantee Mok Liwon would hold on until then. It wasn’t solely a matter of life. If the poisonous air burrowed deep into his organs, the lingering effects would be detrimental. Tang Hwaseo gnawed her teeth, reminding herself of what had to be done. ‘Mok Liwon’s poisoning, escaping Blood Valley, and healing.’ Feeding him the internal elixir of the Inmyeonji Tree would solve the healing issue. Thus, focusing solely on the poisoning and escape was the sound decision. She had to delay the poison’s progression as much as possible. Then hoist Mok Liwon on her back and flee this place. Tang Hwaseo calmly reiterated what needed to be done. She then slapped Mok Liwon’s cheeks briskly. "Mok Young Master! Can you hear my voice?" "Uhhm…." Flipping his eyelids revealed pupils that were half-dilated. **Translation Notes:** - 강시 is translated to "zombies" to capture the animated, reanimated essence familiar in English without deviating from the original context. - Strong terms like "breath-dissolving poison pill (피독주)" directly refer to a poison resisting or neutralizing pill crucial for survival in poisoned environments like Blood Valley. - 목 소협 or Young Master Mok is sometimes translated as "Mok Liwon" to emphasize a more formal tone appropriate to high-stakes moments. **Meta Translation Notes:** - The word choice preserved the tone of concern and urgency needed to convey the protagonist's desperation. Details were particularly maintained to respect the original's intent. The narrative retains a balance of poetic and direct prose typical of martial arts or Murim web novels. Even in that moment, the gaze was fixed on her, indicating that Mok Liwon hadn't completely lost his mind. "Listen carefully. I will now draw out the poison from your body. I will handle the movement so concentrate on one thing only." Tang Hwaseo pulled out a dagger from her clothing and pricked Mok Liwon's left forefinger. Droplets of fresh blood began seeping out. Seeing that, Tang Hwaseo continued. "Direct the poison towards the wound now. You must not lose consciousness. If you understand, blink twice!" Her voice, close to a shout. Mok Liwon blinked twice in response. Nodding, Tang Hwaseo picked him up. She placed one of his arms around her neck, then put his injured finger into her mouth. "Trust me!" An aura of a dull green shade emanated from Tang Hwaseo's entire body and gathered in her legs. Immediately. Ta-ah—! Tang Hwaseo sprinted forward with remarkable speed. * The wind was so fierce it felt like his face would peel off. Soft hair blew about, gently slapping against his cheeks. And at the tip of his left forefinger, there was a warm, slightly humid sensation. "Sip." Mok Liwon tried to piece these sensations together with his foggy mind. His eyes remained half-closed. His stomach churned, and breathing was difficult. His head throbbed so intensely, he couldn’t remember ever experiencing such pain in his life. ‘The poison….’ He needed to expel the poison. This realization didn't come from his own deduction; it was the words Tang Hwaseo had spoken amidst his stupor that he was recalling. After having lied and fought against zombies, he thought he’d be severely scolded by Tang Hwaseo if he didn't heed her words now. That turned out to be fortunate. For Mok Liwon’s unruly energy was still rushing along his acupoints, even amidst being completely drenched in poison. His inner energy flowed from his dantian, rushing through the acupoints. And soaked in the poison spreading through his body, it converged on his waist, chest, shoulder, and arm, culminating at the tip of his forefinger. Then— "Sip—." Along with the sting of a prickly sensation, something warm and moist enveloped his finger. In his daze, Mok Liwon thought. For some reason, it felt tingling and pleasurable. If not for his terrible physical condition, it felt extremely comfortable and warm. The soft hair brushing against his cheeks emitted a scent different from his own. The sensation of someone holding him tightly felt relaxing. A faint smile graced Mok Liwon's lips. He finally realized something amidst the profound comfort he was experiencing. ‘The lady’s scent.’ It was the subtle fragrance that always wafted to him when he was with Tang Hwaseo. Recognizing that it was her natural scent, his smile broadened. "Sip—." The sound echoed again, and the sensation at his fingertip. It was the last thing Mok Liwon felt. Feeling slightly more at ease, he soon slipped into slumber. * At the stream that marked the end of Blood Valley. There lay a woman drenched in sweat and a man gently resting on the ground. The woman couldn't even rearrange her breathing as she checked his complexion. Scooping water from the stream, she poured it into his mouth, and using a piece of cloth, she wiped the sweat from his face before finally relaxing, stretching out her body. Once her breath settled, what rose on her face was anger. However, her anger wasn't intended to harm the man. She lifted her right hand and placed it on his cheek, then pinched it strongly, stretching it. Her lips moved as if scolding him, yet whether he understood or not, the man continued smiling faintly as he remained asleep. There was someone observing all this from a distance. It was the very girl Mok Liwon and Tang Hwaseo had seen earlier in the village of Blood Valley. "Keuh keuh, that boy sure sleeps well." Her laughter sounded like that of an elder’s. Her shaking shoulders evinced how delighted she felt. Ziiii— The girl placed her hand over her face and peeled off her skin. Underneath appeared the face of an elderly man with a gentle expression. "Keep it." The elderly person handed the skin mask, Inpimyung(人？？？), to the masked man beside him. The masked man took it and asked the elder. "Are you sure about this?" "What do you mean?" "You've lost the Inmyeonji Tree, and also the zombies…." "It's fine. I initially raised the Inmyeonji Tree to sample its health benefits, and I left the zombies because I was too lazy to clean them. Instead, didn't we see something amusing?" The elder spoke warmly, gazing at Mok Liwon from afar with tender eyes. "The Mok kid has made something just like him." The masked man bowed his head quietly to the elder's words. "Yes, it seems the Sword Saint has accomplished something remarkable once again." "What Sword Saint," the elder chuckled softly. "Just an imprudent old man." The elder stretched his back with a crunch and turned around with his hands clasped behind him. "Let's go; I've seen enough." "By that, you mean…" "I won't interfere." The masked man looked in the direction of Mok Liwon. ‘Is it a pass?’ Perhaps it was fortune, or perhaps it showed just how special Mok Liwon was. The masked man understood. He knew how stringent was the standard of the elder leaving with his hands folded behind him, the elder who appeared as an ordinary grandmother yet was one of the ten great masters of the orthodox Murim, one of the fearsome figures of Seongnyurak(？？), the Grim Reaper Who Punishes Evil, supported by the shadows as a champion while being an assassin, Salseong(？？) Yeom Soso. On the day of the bloodshed's end, he was one of ten who determined the fate of the man who possessed Heavenly Slaughter Star. —I will watch this child grow. If he turns to darkness upon entering Jianghu, I shall personally take his life. Yeom Soso's words from that day. Seeing her now depart meant that this man named Mok Liwon had caught her favor. "What are you doing? Aren't you coming?" "I'm coming." Erasing his lingering thoughts, the masked man followed behind Yeom Soso at her urging. Their steps continued. Ascending from the cave entrance with the Inmyeonji Tree, climbing up the visible crevice. **Translation Notes:** - Inmyeonji Tree（人面지주）is left as it is due to its significance and specific contextual role, representing a mystical tree of value. - The expression for "Heavenly Slaughter Star (천살성)" depicts his formidable presence and connection to murderous responsibility in the story. - Seongnyurak (성유락) and Salseong (살성) are understood from context to refer to revered, hidden identities, suggesting formidable martial arts prowess and reputation. - The pun involving Yeom Soso who appeared as a girl but was an aged martial arts master adds to the complex layers of the narrative. Words like "peeled off the skin mask" maintain the underlying mystique and martial arts element that echoes the novel's overarching themes. Emerging from there, crossing the forest path, and parting the mist revealed a place. Sal Valley (살곡). The darkest star of Jianghu continued to hide behind the land laden with ominous poison, discerning its prey even today. **Translation Notes:** - Sal Valley (살곡) is directly translated as "Sal Valley." The context suggests a sinister or dangerous area, reflecting the darker side of Jianghu. The term "살곡" can denote "Death Valley" or "Valley of Death," but "Sal Valley" retains the mysterious allure while hinting at its potentially lethal nature within the narrative. This translation preserves the sense of lurking danger and darkness associated with the location, fitting with the martial arts genre theme of enigmatic and hazardous locales.