197 - The Heaven-Slaying Sword

### EP.197 Twentieth Chapter - Clash, Turbulence (3) * * * The annex of the manor. Ma Ilsuk was tilting his liquor cup forward, a simple meal set before him. Tang Hwaseo knelt in front of him and spoke. "I heard from Young Master Mok. You attended the Blood Demon War." "...So, that guy told you everything, huh." Ma Ilsuk poured a drink smoothly into the cup. Tang Hwaseo could glean quite a bit from his movements, expression, and demeanor. It suggested that there was quite a bit he hadn't told Mok Liwon, and that withholding this information might have a negative impact on him. Tang Hwaseo swallowed her tension and asked. "Can you tell me? About Young Master Mok." "Why should I?" "I want to lend my strength." Ma Ilsuk's gaze made her whole body tingle. Tang Hwaseo gritted her teeth and endured it. ‘It's understandable that he would react like this.’ He and Mok Seon-oh had raised Mok Liwon for their entire lives. In other words, they were like parents to Mok Liwon. For such a person, especially one reigning as an absolute power in central Murim, there was no reason to confide in a third party, risking potential danger. ‘But still.’ The reason she insisted on kneeling like this was because her feelings for Mok Liwon were not trivial. If there was a crisis, she wanted to face it together. If the burden was too heavy for him alone to bear, she was willing to share it. Sincerity is always communicated in the end. Tang Hwaseo wanted to believe that. "Child, do you like Liwon so much?" She flinched. Tang Hwaseo lifted her head and looked at Ma Ilsuk. She could tell from his serious expression that it wasn’t a playful question. Thus, she answered. "Yes, I like him. Very much." "Why?" "Because Young Master Mok gave me a reason to live like this." Indeed. Her usual reasons for liking Mok Liwon—his looks, his personality—were things she would mention, but when she looked deep within her own heart, this was the reason that surfaced. "I was a fugitive." "I know." "I was a coward, running away from my family, trying to avoid them for the rest of my life." "I've heard that too." "Young Master Mok told me something. And because of that, I was able to stop being a coward." "...What did he say?" Tang Hwaseo smiled. "He said there's no law in the world that blames the victim." In Suya County, Jiangxi Province, Mok Liwon said that. "And thus, there's no need to fear anything." He said that since she hadn’t committed any crimes, there was no reason to run. He explained that as long as benevolence existed, there was no need to worry about defeat. Mok Liwon taught her how to stand and how to fight back. To help a complete stranger, simply because he wanted to. That warm kindness was precisely why Tang Hwaseo loved Mok Liwon. "I learned benevolence from Young Master Mok. Without him, I would have been a fool ignorant of such kindness. That's why I like him. And I also want to repay that kindness." She wished, for as long as she lived, to make Mok Liwon smile. Even as he spread his benevolence across the world, she wanted him to keep his smile. Tang Hwaseo didn’t care if people called her foolish. That reason was enough for her. As it had been enough for him, the reason for love was simply to repay that kindness. "So, I'd like to hear it." Tang Hwaseo finished her words and promptly lowered her head. A sound escaped from Ma Ilsuk's lips. A silence that stretched on for quite a while. With her head down, Tang Hwaseo managed her tense gut as she listened to the sound of Ma Ilsuk gulping down his drink. How much time had passed? As the cold sweat began to trickle down, Ma Ilsuk finally responded. "...Liwon indeed has great fortune in people." There was a small, laughter-tinged note to his voice. Tang Hwaseo's head snapped up. "I heard that you were the first to step forward when Liwon entered Jianghu." Ma Ilsuk was faintly smiling. "That's fortunate. And thank you. You must have been a great help in Liwon's love for Jianghu." Tang Hwaseo wasn’t blind to what that meant. She could immediately tell it was granting approval. "Master King of Beggars...!" "Therefore, I'll ask." Tang Hwaseo's body tensed. Ma Ilsuk feigned a stern expression. "Are you confident that you won't run away?" A question that required no contemplation. "Yes." "Even if it's a burden you can't handle on your own?" "If it's a burden I can't handle, then Young Master Mok can't either. In such cases, it's better to share the load, isn't it?" "What if even the two of you can't handle it?" What was he trying to hint at by instilling such fear? Tang Hwaseo's fists clenched tightly. "...If that's the case, I'll become strong enough to bear the burden." She spoke once more, still unwilling to give up, with words of determination. At that moment, Ma Ilsuk released a wave of energy to press down on Tang Hwaseo's shoulders. ‘This is a test.’ If she lowered her head here, he would indeed tell her nothing. Tang Hwaseo endured with all her might. Even as her trembling arms barely supported her, she refused to bow her head. Had her resolve reached him? "...What a stubborn child." Ma Ilsuk withdrew his energy. Only then could Tang Hwaseo exhale. "Huh...!" "I commend your spirit. A true hero never backs down even before a formidable foe. Liwon said the same. That you're quite fitting as a true hero." Though his words barely registered, they couldn’t be ignored. Tang Hwaseo forced a smile onto her lips. Ma Ilsuk spoke. "Very well. Follow me." Ma Ilsuk rose from his seat. * The place they arrived at, following Ma Ilsuk, was the innermost part of the annex. A sealed chamber on all sides. Within was a small table, a few books piled atop it, and the remains of a skull, completing the space. "Here, take this." Tang Hwaseo received a book from Ma Ilsuk. As she touched the cover, she realized it was a recently bound tome. "Eclipsing Star Technique...?" --- ### Translation Notes: 1. **Ma Ilsuk (마일석)/King of Beggars (걸왕)**: Translated faithfully using the context of his character as a figure of authority, holding familial ties with the protagonist. 2. **Tang Hwaseo (당화서)/Poison Phoenix (독봉)**: The character's intense dedication is conveyed through her emotional narrative which is expressed in her dialogue. 3. **Eclipsing Star Technique (역성대법)**: The technique name is retained to reflect its significance and mysterious allure. 4. **Blood Demon War (혈마전)**: A notable event with historical implications in the story, thus translated clearly for context. 5. **Setting and Context**: The narrative around familial duty, mentorship in martial arts, and the complexity of relationships in the story, especially the concept of found family, enhances character motivations and adds depth to cultural ties and history. The tone captures the seriousness and emotional stakes in the conversation. "The answer lies within that tome," Ma Ilsuk said, a hint of bitterness in his smile. "The original text was written in the language of Tibet, so I had the Zhuge kid help me translate it." "What exactly is this tome?" Tang Hwaseo asked. "It’s something I found during the Blood Demon War." Tang Hwaseo’s gaze then drifted toward the skull. She wondered whose it might be. "The answer regarding that skull is also within the tome," Ma Ilsuk said, perceiving her curiosity. Tang Hwaseo shivered slightly and lowered her head. Now was not the time to ask about the skull. "Thank you for trusting me." "Given how much perseverance you've shown, it would be remiss of me not to." "I will prove that your decision to trust me was not a mistake." "Don't prove it to me; prove it to Liwon instead." Ma Ilsuk turned away. "I can't bring myself to tell Liwon anything. Perhaps it’s my own inadequacy." His voice carried a hint of regret. Tang Hwaseo had to suppress the rising questions within her. "Whether you reveal everything to Liwon after reading it or decide to keep it hidden is your choice. You might just be able to provide the comfort he needs." With that, Ma Ilsuk walked out. "If you need help, let me know. I will assist as much as I can within my means." "Oh, yes." "Let’s go." Tang Hwaseo followed him out of the sealed room, clutching the tome tightly against her chest. As soon as they stepped outside the annex, an urgent voice called out. "Master King of Beggars!!!" A martial artist from the Zhuge Family came running in a panic. "Hmm? What’s the matter?" "It's an urgent report!" The breathless martial artist, with a trembling voice, said, "The northeast has been breached. Wudang... has been annihilated." Tang Hwaseo’s face turned ashen. "Immortal Dragon has betrayed us." * * * In the northeast of Qinghai, along the border that Wudang’s Taoists had long held against Xinjiang, the scene was grim. Moonlight reflected off pools of red blood, casting an eerie atmosphere. Scattered body parts and the Taoist robes stained a dark crimson told the story of the calamity that had unfolded. "Greetings, Fifth Elder." Immortal Dragon, known as Samagong in central regions, lowered his head. Before him stood a sturdy old man with a large dao upon his shoulder. "Did any manage to escape?" "We are in pursuit." "...I see." The Fifth Elder withdrew his gaze. Samagong barely restrained his laughter. ‘Finally...!’ Free from the oppressive confines of central lands. Returning once more to being Samagong, not Hyeon-gong. Heading back to the long-yearned-for Ten Thousand Great Mountains. His excitement was boundless, barely able to contain his voice from erupting in joy. Samagong raised his head and looked at the bodies of the Taoists strewn about. ‘Weaklings.’ The presence of the Fifth Elder and his ten subordinates marked the limit of their forces here. Even with that, Wudang was helplessly overrun. A pitiful end for those who had failed to produce even a single transcendent. "...Gong." A nearly-dead voice spoke out. Samagong turned his head. "Headmaster." There lay the headmaster of Wudang, gasping, with one arm severed and a hole in his abdomen, staring up at him. With disbelief etched across his twisted features, Samagong couldn’t help but burst into laughter. --- ### Translation Notes: 1. **Immortal Dragon (선룡)**: A character known as Samagong, who previously held a position of trust but has now betrayed others. The name reflects both his past status and current betrayal. 2. **Samagong (사마공)**: This name is used synonymously with Immortal Dragon, primarily used in central regions. It captures the returning identity of the character. 3. **Fifth Elder (5장로)**: A leading figure within the opposing faction, commanding respect and authority. 4. **Hyeon-gong (현공)**: The previous identity or monk name of Immortal Dragon before reverting to Samagong. 5. **Ten Thousand Great Mountains (십만대산)**: Referred to as the place Samagong longs to return to, indicating both physical and metaphorical significance as a sanctuary or place of power. 6. **Headmaster of Wudang (무당의 장문인)**: A respected leader who fell victim to betrayal and defeat, important for understanding the gravity of Wudang's downfall. These terms and context ensure clarity in the narrative, emphasizing the themes of betrayal, identity, and the merciless dynamics within the martial arts world.