35 - Dragon Phoenix Assembly (8) - The Heaven-Slaying Sword

In the blink of an eye, that was their intent. Yet, the outcome of the duel between the two women wasn't easily decided. It was to be expected. The fight was between someone at the very edge of first-rate mastery and another just stepping into the peak; the difference in their skill levels wasn't drastically extreme. Besides, the duel was also a clash between two martial artists who knew each other too well. Whoosh- Hyeun's sword was deflected by Dang Hwa Seo's fist. A direct hit on the blade's face. What followed was Dang Hwa Seo's hand technique. Hyeun avoided a strike aimed at her neck by rapidly pulling herself back. Both women had the same thought. 'As expected...' Tough to deal with. Dang Hwa Seo's martial arts were terrifyingly precise. This was a skill honed from a lifetime of enduring pain, to control her venom for the sake of survival. Just as she had always refined her body to prevent even a shred of poison from flowing incorrectly, Dang Hwa Seo handled her internal energy with equal meticulousness. But that didn't mean Hyeun was at a disadvantage. She, too, was a genius, worthy of the name Phoenix. Despite the unpleasant rumors always following her, the reason she could represent Ami was precisely because of her exceptional talent. Her sword technique, swift yet dispersing like a mirage, was nothing short of a disaster for Dang Hwa Seo. Thump- Again, the sword was deflected. And poison spread across the dueling ground. Hyeun gritted her teeth in frustration. 'Damn annoying.' Between the peak and the first-rate, there is a wall. A wall that an ordinary warrior could never breach. However, this too was martial arts; ultimately, it was about using one's body. The duel between warriors wasn't decided by their level of attainment alone, because the compatibility of their skills must also be considered. The duel with Dang Hwa Seo was fundamentally different from facing other swordsmen. The real weapon of the woman glaring venomously wasn't her hand technique but her poison. Every breath brought a tingling numbness, an invisible hand that seized the body. 'Paralyzing poison, and on top of that, dissolving poison.' Movement slows. And over time, one's internal energy dissipates more rapidly. A long battle would lead to certain defeat. But aiming for a quick decision was difficult due to her solid defense. "You're troublesome." "You have the temper of a monk." "And you have a crude way of speaking." "The crude thing here is your physique." Rage flared in Dang Hwa Seo's eyes. While anger and irritation were undoubtedly present, it was primarily due to the effects of her deploying her venom more forcefully. "Draw out your sword energy." "Are you asking to lose?" "There's no joy in defeating an opponent who hasn't put in their full effort. It just gives the loser an excuse." Hyeun chuckled. "If that's what you wish." Ssshhh- A pale light gathered around Hyeun's sword. It was her sword energy, still in the process of fully forming—an unsteady, faint light. 'She's provoking me.' Hyeun understood. The words were a ploy to exhaust her internal energy more rapidly. But that didn't mean she couldn't respond to the taunt. Her internal energy would disperse anyway if she conserved it. Pressing the attack to bring about a quicker conclusion was, for her, the right decision. "Here I come." Dang Hwa Seo tensed up again. 'I must not let the sword touch me.' It was still sword energy, no matter how faint. If she recklessly attempted to strike it aside as she had before, her internal energy would be damaged by the blade's energy. There was only one way through. 'I need to get closer.' A faint dark-green aura appeared around Dang Hwa Seo. It was an incomplete imitation of a peak-level aura, since she hadn't fully reached that level yet. Despite the tearing pain unleashed by the dissipating venom, a pain she had grown wearyingly accustomed to over the years, Dang Hwa Seo ignored it and manifested her martial arts. Sssss- Black Sky Venom Technique. The secret technique of the direct descendants of the Tang Clan coursed through her body. Immediately, Dang Hwa Seo's form blurred. Swish- Serpent's Shadow Step. She darted forward, utilizing the footwork she had practiced until her soles were bruised back in the Tang Clan domain. She swung her hand upwards in a wide arc. It was a move that exposed many vulnerabilities, but Hyeun chose to retreat instead of striking. She felt the lethal venom emanating from Dang Hwa Seo's entire body. "Tch, always so quick to catch on." "Thanks for the compliment." Hyeun swung her sword. The venom encroaching around her was swept away by the blade's wind. Breathing deeply in the momentarily cleansed air, Hyeun surged forward again. The duel was reaching its climax. * It was a thing of the past. The year Hyeun, barely 14, had first earned the right to attend the Yongbong Branch Assembly. Back then, she held great affection for her. So much so, that it might have been more appropriate to call it admiration. "Nice to meet you. You are the esteemed Venom Peak, correct?" "Who might you be?" "Ah! I am Hyeun of Ami. I've wanted to meet you for so long…." "Ah… the Ami Sect. Pleased to meet you. But I'm currently preoccupied; could we speak some other time?" "Oh, yes!" A woman who had participated in the Yongbong Branch Assembly a year ahead of herself. And a heroine who, at the age of 14, had earned the nickname "Venom Phoenix." At the time, Dang Hwa Seo was a dazzling figure to the young Hyeun. "How is it? Isn't she amazing?" "I feel like I was ignored…." "So what? It might be so now, but if I make it to the main competition, won't it be different? Even if not this time, as I continue to grow, it'll change, right? Isn't it rather a good thing? It'll be amusing to watch her expression change." Even being ignored was joyfully received. Dang Hwa Seo, who had spent her time alone throughout the Yongbong Assembly, was such a dignified person that even her solitude seemed attractive. That's how much 14-year-old Hyeun admired everything about her. If she wasn't interested, then proving oneself through martial arts was the way to go. Hyeun was confident there was no other woman with talents like hers that could stand on the same ground as her. "I'm confident. Surely, Venom Phoenix will recognize me." Hyeun proved those words. The next year, at the age of 15, during the Yongbong Branch Assembly. "White Phoenix. I heard you received such a nickname." "It's far too generous." "There's no need for false modesty." "Was it that obvious?" She was delighted. Finally, she had risen to the same level as Dang Hwa Seo. Her name had etched itself in her mind. Perhaps, that was why she had provoked her. "Hmm, I've heard people say that I will outdo Lady Temple Master." "I said drop the modesty, not to be arrogant." "Are you not confident?" "It seems the monk does not know her place." "We'll see on the dueling platform." "It happens to be the next match. Looks like I can be of some help to the monk's spirit of enlightenment." That year, Hyeun was defeated by Dang Hwa Seo. Though it was a one-sided battle that ended in just three strikes, she was still happy. In that year's duel, she and Namgung Jincheon were the only ones who managed to last more than three seconds against her. Dang Hwa Seo at 16 was still someone Hyeun could admire. "Lady Temple Master! Next time, I will strive to ensure I can win…." "No need." "Excuse me?" "…Just know that. Oh, and do moderate your indulgence. It doesn’t seem to be a particularly good hobby. It might be fine now to merely have meals together, but if you go beyond that, it could become difficult to return, no?" "Uh…!" That's why. Because she admired her so much. Hyeun hated Dang Hwa Seo. "…A runaway, is it?" "Yes, the Tang clan denies it, but it's clear she's a runaway. Otherwise, why would the Venom Phoenix that they were so eager to show off be in hiding for half a year?" After their last meeting at the Yongbong Assembly when Hyeun was 15, all traces of Dang Hwa Seo had disappeared. Even though she had just started to be recognized as her formidable rival in the jianghu after making it to the semi-finals under the name White Phoenix, it all came to naught. On that day, Hyeun felt as if the world was collapsing. The notion that the always serene figure she admired seemed to have crumbled, made Hyeun, who wandered like a child who had lost a treasured possession, come to such a conclusion. "She was just a woman of that caliber." As unrequited affections often do, she turned the admiration she harbored into anger. Gathering up the ashes of her burnt admiration, she nourished the flames. "How foolish." And so she grew. "Sword Qi Master! That's amazing! How could you already…." "Don't make a fuss. I still have a long way to go." "Really?" "Time isn't given only to me. Who knows, Venom Phoenix might be in an even higher place." "Hey, it's already been five years. The jianghu might still pit Madam Saza against Venom Phoenix in debates, but how could a woman who's just running away…." "Same." "Yes, yes!" "There's no evidence of fleeing. Neither the Tang clan, nor the ancient sects, nor any family, nobody has confirmed that story as truth." Perhaps it was stubbornness. Hyeun might have just wanted to convey her name to Dang Hwa Seo, who had vanished before she could prove herself. Of course, it was natural to want to mend something already broken in such a manner, given the depth of her admiration. The wait was long. The admiration turned into resentment, only darkening its twisted shade. On the day of the banquet she was attended. Hyeun faced her, with emotions she couldn't quite define. "Are you sure about that outfit?" There was a woman, laughing with a courtesan by her side, a sight that should never be seen, with Hyeun right in front of her. An utterly disappointing sight. Even though this twisted adoration should come to an end at this moment, it should be the right face to show. Yet, at that moment, Hyeun felt something other than disappointment. "Hm? Miss, what's wrong?" "Nothing. Just saw an unpleasant face." It was absurd. Despite all the resentment, just the fact that Dang Hwa Seo remembered her brought back a sense of youth's brightness. There she was, unwittingly smiling. 'I won in martial arts.' There she was, happy with such a thought. Every action that followed was an extension of that. It was the behavior under the consideration of 'How can I make Venom Phoenix sincere?' "It's been six years, yet you seem largely unchanged." Even mocking her martial arts prowess was part of it. "Is the Temple Master standing behind, someone I'm meeting for the first time? May I be introduced?" It was also a provocation, showing interest in Muk Li Won to agitate her. "Lady Temple Master probably doesn't like me. Given your competitive nature, you must feel bitter about being placed on the same level as me." And through Muk Li Won, she relayed such divisive words. 'Well, it's not like I had no personal feelings.' Setting aside those now completely cooled feelings, in the end, if Dang Hwa Seo became sincere, it didn't matter. Hyeun just wanted to show. How much she had grown in the five years without you. And she wanted to check. Whether the heroine named Dang Hwa Seo was still thriving. Crack- Thus, at the moment her solar plexus was hit by a punch, Hyeun could smile despite the breath-stopping pain. * It was a strike seized in a fleeting moment. Dang Hwa Seo smiled pleasantly, feeling the satisfaction of the punch. Clank- The sword fell to the ground, creating a clear noise, followed by Hyeun coughing out, and the announcer's declaration. [Venom Phoenix! Victory!] "Wowwwww!!!" Only then did Dang Hwa Seo pull back her fist, realizing she had won. Hyeun, while wheezing on her knees, still managed to speak with a smile. "What's the deal with using dissolving poison so sneakily?" "Sneakily? You should have expected it." "Wow, shameless." "Not something I want to hear from a monk." Dang Hwa Seo narrowed her eyes, looking down at her. 'Really…' Even after years, she remained utterly unruly. Not at all like a nun in her speech, and that damnable tendency towards attraction was even less nun-like. 'I even gave word of advice before leaving.' Why did she have to flaunt those colors? It was quite justified for Hyeun to be displeased with her. However, even Dang Hwa Seo had to admit something. "Your martial arts have become quite useful. Still not enough to beat me, though." Hyeun's head lifted. She blinked widely for a moment, then burst into laughter, saying, "If only I'd prepared for the dissolving poison, I might have won, right?" Then she flopped down. Hyeun collapsed to the floor. Despite her defeat, her face was adorned with a breezy smile. "Ah, how frustrating." Such an unconvincing feigned sorrow. Murmuring such words, Hyeun relished the cheerful feeling. The duel was brief, but its result was sweet. The long-stained and twisted admiration in Hyeun had found its place again, neatly, with just one punch to the solar plexus.