20 - The Heaven-Slaying Sword

〈 Chapter 20 〉 Anhuì (1) * * * Mok Liwon awoke a day after the incident. The place he found himself in was a village half a day's journey from the exit of Blood Valley. Tang Hwaseo could not afford to delay their schedule, so she carried him to the village. “Uh...” “You’re awake?” The sharp voice pierced his ears, and Mok Liwon rolled his eyes. A foreign ceiling, the touch of a soft blanket. And in the warm room, glaring at him was... “Lady?” It was Tang Hwaseo, her face contorted with anger. Mok Liwon blinked. Amid his confusion, Tang Hwaseo, with a cold, stony expression, spoke. “Are you comfortable?” Though the words were sudden and sharp, Mok Liwon sensed the seriousness in her tone. His mind cleared quickly. Recalling the sequence of events before he lost consciousness and the sensations he felt in his haze, Mok Liwon shivered. ‘This is bad!’ Thinking this was surely something for which he would be scolded, cold sweat trickled down. Contrary to his expectation, Tang Hwaseo let out a heavy sigh and reached over to touch Mok Liwon’s forehead. “How is your body?” Tang Hwaseo’s hand was cold. Upon closer examination, the dark shadows under her eyes suggested she hadn't slept well. It was a fact not hard to discern. Tang Hwaseo had carried him here while he was unconscious, and her weary appearance was likely because she had stayed up nursing him. Mok Liwon shrank his shoulders and responded. “I-I'm fine... Sorry for being a burden...” “Do you understand what a burden you were?” Zap. As Tang Hwaseo glared at him, Mok Liwon pursed his lips tightly. “Why did you do that?” “Well, that is...” “You should have said something if you were out of Poison Neutralizing Pills. I could have sought an alternative, couldn’t I?” “I'm sorry...” “Don’t think you can just brush this off with an apology.” Was it his imagination, or did Tang Hwaseo’s eyes seem to blaze? The ensuing events became a lesson etched in Mok Liwon’s memory. “Listen well. Speaking up when you're unwell is a courtesy to those around you. Ignoring this goes against the code of conducts you seem so unable to live without. I don't understand what you were thinking, and since it’s in the past, I won't press further. But! If something like this happens again...” On that day, Mok Liwon realized: If he acts without thinking, he will endure Tang Hwaseo’s nagging for hours. * His recovery after awakening was swift. Initially, he had collapsed due to internal injuries more so than physical harm, and thanks to Tang Hwaseo’s incessant efforts to extract the poison, the damage was not severe. That wasn't all, of course. The correct term might be that it was a stroke of fortune. Mok Liwon now possessed the inner pill of the Inmyeonji (人面芝). It was condensed in pill form, containing the natural energy the mystical entity had accumulated in life. There could be no better situation for expelling poison and restoring damaged internal energy. Hoo­. Mok Liwon consumed the processed inner pill that Tang Hwaseo had prepared, then sat cross-legged to circulate his internal energy. As the inner energy of Seongryeon Divine Art at the third star stage combined with the inner pill, the magnitude of his internal power began to grow. Three stars faintly glowed in Mok Liwon’s mindscape. The translucent path connecting those stars exhibited a different nature than before. A path that was once indiscernible without deep concentration was now visibly clear upon scrutiny. The completion of the path was imminent. This was one of the most critical processes in the principle of connecting the stars of Seongryeon. ‘One Gaeb (甲子) is right in front of me.’ The equivalent of sixty years worth of internal energy, or one Gaeb (甲子), was within reach. Only about five years worth of cultivation remained. ­Seongryeon Divine Art cannot be perfected with indiscriminate growth. Perfect harmony of mind, gas, and body, and balanced development of each component of the Divine Art are required to fully embrace its grandeur. So, you must not hastily choose to increase your internal energy. Mok Seon-oh once warned and advised: ‘With the third star, you reach one Gaeb (甲子).’ And at the fifth star, he should reach I-Gaeb (乙甲), needing to link one more star per Gaeb until the eighth star. Beyond the eighth star was a distant concern. For the present situation, Mok Liwon was now truly nearing the completion of the third stage of Seongryeon. ‘Completion of the third stage means reaching the Peak Realm.' The moment to transform himself from the beginning of the Peak Realm into its full realization. It marked the end of the introductory phase of Seongryeon Divine Art. Mok Liwon gathered his internal energy and opened his eyes. What greeted him was Tang Hwaseo sitting on the bed with her legs crossed. “Have you finished?” “Thank you for guarding me!” “Guarding? I was only sitting in the room.” Tang Hwaseo chuckled at the revitalized appearance of Mok Liwon. Though he could be utterly exasperating, his simple smile could irritate yet put one at ease. “Tonight, we'll stay here. With dusk upon us, let's finish our meal and return to sleep.” “Understood!” Just as he was getting up, Mok Liwon halted in his tracks. “…Wait, here?” A thought whisked through Mok Liwon’s mind. The current room was the one he shared with Tang Hwaseo for his nursing. And now he was fully recovered, free of toxins. In other words, he had to share the room with Tang Hwaseo in full consciousness. Blush­! Mok Liwon’s face flushed. His mind whirled with improper musings. ‘How scandalous!’ How does one spend a night in the same room as a grown woman in the tradition of keeping boys and girls apart at seven? No, perhaps this is the lady's elaborate scheme... Smack­! His train of thought was abruptly halted by a flick on the forehead from Tang Hwaseo. “Ouch!” “Drop those improper thoughts. For someone young, your mind’s already a tad too wild.” “Wh-what are you saying...!” “Your eyes are lecherous.” --- **Terms Explanation:** 1. Anhuì (안휘): A transliteration of the Chinese province Anhui, retaining its original sound for accuracy in geographical names. 2. Inmyeonji (인면지): Translated as "Inmyeonji" with "인면" meaning "human face" and "지" being a word often used for a type of mushroom. Here, it refers to a mystical entity or plant with beneficial energy properties. An alternate translation could be "Human-faced Fungus," but it might lose some mystical connotations. The chapter maintains the light-hearted yet instructional tone of a wuxia narrative, illustrating the camaraderie and accountability between characters while touching on traditional cultural ethos. Mok Liwon instantly shrank back. Tang Hwaseo couldn’t help but chuckle at his reaction. ‘This is why I can’t leave him alone.’ Despite being completely transparent in his actions, he couldn't tell a lie. His thoughts lingered at the level of a child's, so Tang Hwaseo saw him more as a younger sibling to care for than as a man. Think about it. If that endearing face were to be led astray by some nefarious temptress, there wouldn't be a more frustrating ordeal. If such a thing happened, she might just die from an outburst of rage. “Why don’t you collect yourself and come along? I’ll treat you to the sōmen and green bamboo wine you like so much.” “Hm? Oh, yes!” Energized, Mok Liwon immediately perked up and followed Tang Hwaseo like a puppy. “And don’t go yelling loudly anywhere.” “Hm? Why not?” Wouldn't that draw attention? “Wouldn’t it disturb the other diners?” “Ah, right!” How could he be so cheerful? Tang Hwaseo inadvertently smiled at Mok Liwon's jubilant mood and humming. “Let’s go.” As she said this and descended the stairs, Tang Hwaseo was oblivious to the fact she was being cautious of the gazes directed at Mok Liwon. * The inn was bustling. As they were now in a proper city, there were many people, including scatterings of martial artists with swords at their waists. As usual, Mok Liwon inhaled his sōmen and spoke to Tang Hwaseo. “Lady! There are so many people...” “Swallow your food before speaking.” Gulp­. “There are so many people!” “Well, that’s only natural with Anhuì so close now.” “There are many martial artists too!” “Yes, with the Dragon-Phoenix Assembly happening, many have gathered.” Mok Liwon tilted his head. “The Dragon-Phoenix Assembly isn’t restricted to just invited individuals?” “The main event is, but the surrounding area isn’t. During the assembly, people eager to see the heirs of prestigious families for the next generation, and those who want to compete against gathered martial artists, fill the place.” “Wow...!” Excitement lit up Mok Liwon’s face. “That sounds delightful! I’d like to duel with them...” “You need to participate in the meeting with me.” “Oh, right.” Mok Liwon scratched the back of his head sheepishly. Tang Hwaseo chuckled softly and spoke to him. “It should be quite a spectacle. Watching them argue about whose family is better or who will win this year’s Qinglong Martial Gathering can be quite amusing.” Her grin had a dangerous glint. Mok Liwon swallowed nervously and looked away from the smirking Tang Hwaseo. ‘So, Lady Tang enjoys watching fights…!’ This was new information. “In any case, we might meet him this year.” “Hm? Who?” “Nangong Jintian.” A puzzled expression emerged on Mok Liwon’s face. Realizing Mok Liwon’s ignorance of Jianghu rumors, Tang Hwaseo sighed and continued. “He's the young lord of the Namgung Family. Known as the Sword Dragon, he’s reputed to be...” As Tang Hwaseo spoke, Mok Liwon’s eyes sparkled with interest. He leaned forward, eager for the next words. “Hey, have you heard the latest? A new young master has appeared in Jiangxi Province’s Suyang County.” At the voice emerging from somewhere, both stopped cold. For a brief moment, they exchanged glances, then turned their heads towards the source of the sound. There sat a martial artist, appearing to be a vagabond, sipping wine while telling a story to his companion across. “Hm? A young master?” “Yes! A master at the Peak Realm! They say he’s not older than his early twenties and single-handedly eradicated a gang.” As the vagabond’s story unfolded, Tang Hwaseo’s face froze. ‘That...’ No matter how she saw it, it was clearly about Mok Liwon. Ignoring how the rumors spread this far, her attention was fixated on one aspect. “Little Hero?” Mok Liwon’s eyes shone as if they could pierce through the vagabond. The look on his face was blatant. Expectation. Hearing his story from someone else, he couldn’t contain his immense anticipation. “To think someone so young reached the Peak Realm! Sounds absurd...” “Hey! I have reliable sources! Several people witnessed it!” “T-Then...!” “They couldn’t confirm his origin. Those who saw him speculated he’s the heir of a secluded mystical sect.” Freeze­. Mok Liwon’s body trembled. Tang Hwaseo, narrowing her eyes, watched his reaction. ‘Could it be true?’ Seeing him panic, it seemed there might be some truth to the claims. While pondering just that... “They say he’s already earned a nickname.” “Ooh!” A statement they couldn’t ignore followed. This time, even Tang Hwaseo turned to look at the vagabond. Mok Liwon gazed intently at the vagabond, eyes wide with interest. Seemingly oblivious to their stares, the drunken vagabond continued his tale. “Black Ink Sword (黑墨劍).” “Black Ink Sword?” “They say his sword aura looked as if painted in ink, hence the name.” * Back at the inn’s room. Tang Hwaseo looked at Mok Liwon with a curious expression. Not for any particular reason, but because Mok Liwon’s expression was particularly sullen. “Little Hero?” “…Why do you call me?” Mok Liwon was crossing his arms, brows furrowed tightly. He frowned so hard it seemed the character for river (川) between his brows would leap out at any moment. Oddly enough, even in such a state, his beauty remained untouched. ‘Why is he acting like this?’ Hadn’t he obtained the nickname he so desired? Besides, the name "Black Ink Sword" isn’t embarrassing, it’s quite a straightforward and striking nickname. So why the sour mood? With these thoughts, Tang Hwaseo asked: --- **Terms Explanation:** 1. sōmen (소면): A type of thin wheat noodle often served cold with a light dipping sauce, retaining its original name for cultural context. 2. Black Ink Sword (黑墨劍, 흑묵검): Transliteration with the character meanings provided. "흑묵" means "black ink," and "검" means "sword." Literal and fitting, as it describes the aura of his technique, ensuring cultural context and description are preserved. The chapter reflects the dynamics and humor typical in wuxia tales, emphasizing interpersonal relationships and the spread of reputation within the Jianghu. "Nothing major, just curious why you don't seem pleased about getting a nickname. Aren't you happy?" Mok Liwon's head snapped around. His newly changed expression was full of words ready to spill forth. "Exactly! I did get a nickname! But that's the issue! It's Black Ink Sword(黑墨劍)!" "What's wrong with Black Ink Sword? It’s rather a good one..." Mok Liwon jumped to his feet. "The nickname sounds too Unorthodox Faction-like!" Tang Hwaseo's face went blank. "Black Ink Sword? Because the sword aura is black, it's called Black Ink Sword? It sounds like a name for a master in the Chronicles of The Jianghu Heroes! But I'm a wandering martial artist!" Clenching both fists and spilling out his passionate words, Tang Hwaseo’s face now resembled that of a doll. "There are plenty of better nicknames! Like Wandering Black Ink Swordsman or Heroic Sword! Something like Humanitarian Heroic Swordsman!" Ah, I see. The nickname needs to include 'heroic.' That's the issue. Mok Liwon’s voice grew louder. An emotionless smile blossomed on Tang Hwaseo’s face. "Young Master Mok." A chilly tone. Mok Liwon flinched. Only then did he realize something was off about Tang Hwaseo’s demeanor. “Uh, hmm...?” Tang Hwaseo quietly raised her hand to point at the bed. "Just go and get some sleep." Tang Hwaseo thought to herself. Regardless of anything else, Mok Liwon clearly had no talent for coming up with names. --- Notes: 1. Black Ink Sword (黑墨劍): The name translates to "Black Ink Sword," suggesting a dark and perhaps mysterious connotation. Mok Liwon feels it sounds too much like a name associated with the Unorthodox Faction, contrasting with his identity as a chivalrous hero, hence his frustration. 2. Different Nickname Suggestions (묵검협객, 협검, 인협검객): These suggestions include components like "협객" (heroic/wandering martial artist), aligning more with Mok Liwon’s preferred image and typical of chivalrous narratives. This passage continues the blend of character-driven humor and personal growth central to wuxia tales, while revealing more about Mok Liwon’s motivations and how he perceives himself within the Jianghu.