48 - Dragon Phoenix Assembly (21) - The Heaven-Slaying Sword

"...I plan to go to the Martial Arts Alliance." Dang Hwa-Seo threw out her intentions without haste. Then she continued with what had happened before. "That night, Mok So Hyup must have heard the conversation that went back and forth between me and Dang Un Gyeong. Yes, I was fleeing from the Tang Sect." She didn't delve deep into the reasons related to her story. Dang Hwa-Seo's childhood was full of moments so dreadful she despised recalling them, and it was also an immensely humiliating matter to discuss with others. She didn't want to tell Mok Riwon about the incidents where she had cried out, begging for it all to stop. Thus, Dang Hwa-Seo glossed over her childhood and continued with her tale. "The day I met Mok So Hyup and left Suyang Hyun, I made up my mind. I decided not to run away from my family anymore. I wanted to move forward boldly and live my life." "...So you did." "There was something necessary for that." Dang Hwa-Seo looked up to face Mok Riwon. He was looking at her with a comforting smile, as if he was willing to listen to any story. It was a smile that encouraged courage. "What did you need?" "A status that the Tang Sect couldn't touch. That's why I wanted to head to the Martial Arts Alliance." "Does the Martial Arts Alliance have that?" "Once you join the Martial Arts Alliance and attain the position of a clan leader, you obtain it. Since the Martial Arts Alliance is considered the base of the White Path martial world, the moment one becomes a clan leader there, regardless of their previous affiliations, they become a member of the Martial Arts Alliance." "You wanted to be the clan leader of the alliance." "I wanted to ensure the Tang Sect couldn't harm me." She wanted to build and accumulate such a status so that someday she could return to the Tang Sect with her head held high and seek justice. This gathering at Yongbong Branch was the first step towards that. The journey to the Shaolin Temple was also part of that process. A man who was the leader of the Martial Arts Alliance twenty years ago during a great turmoil. He needed a recommendation letter from Won Myung of Buddhist Star. "...After the Yongbong Branch meeting ends, I was planning to embark on a journey to become a clan leader. That meant parting ways with Mok So Hyup soon. But..." Dang Hwa-Seo hesitated. It was finally time to ask for a favor, but she couldn't bring herself to utter the words. She concluded it was sheer stubbornness. "But?" Mok Riwon gently urged her to continue. Dang Hwa-Seo touched the fingers of Mok Riwon who was fidgeting with his hands and then spoke. "...I want to go with Mok So Hyup to the alliance. I wish to spend more time together." It was a disorganized statement. Dang Hwa-Seo realized it after blurting it out. Her face turned red. Her eyes shimmered with shame. Her head drooped down. Her mind was spinning, telling her to quickly come up with a follow-up sentence. But, the hastily thought-of reply was bound not to be well-formed. It wasn't going to be prettily packaged. The words carried raw emotions. "...I need you." "What do you mean…" "I need, Mok So Hyup." Dang Hwa-Seo barely managed to say those words. She was expressing emotions without fully understanding what she was saying. "That's why I want to go together. I wish for Mok So Hyup to accompany me to the Martial Arts Alliance." Dang Hwa-Seo tightly closed her eyes. Her heart was pounding fiercely for having made such an impolite request. The moment one joins the alliance, their allegiance changes to the alliance. This meant that if Mok Riwon decided to go with her to the alliance, his life might become bound to it as well. No doubt, this wouldn't be pleasant for Mok Riwon. 'Even if he refuses…' It couldn't be helped. Dang Hwa-Seo's mind was filled with the prediction that Mok Riwon would refuse her request. However. "Alright." "Of course... What?" It wasn't so. Mok Riwon gave his consent too easily. Dang Hwa-Seo doubted her ears. She wondered if she was dreaming. Thus, she observed Mok Riwon's complexion. She worried if he was truly considering her words and asked in case his concern had arisen. "Do you understand what I'm saying? Joining the alliance is not something to be taken lightly. Belonging somewhere…" "Didn't I tell you? I'm someone who can do anything if you ask. I said I could do it as long as it doesn't go against my principles. Moreover, joining the Martial Arts Alliance doesn't violate any principles. Rather, it's a pursuit of principles. Why not? The Martial Arts Alliance is the nest of heroes who run about day and night to maintain the order of the central plains' martial world." "That's…" "And I, too, do not wish to part with you." Thump. Dang Hwa-Seo's heart throbbed significantly. This was a different kind of beat from the anxiety she had been feeling just moments before. She had to momentarily deal with a mental overload, considering what he was saying. Yet, cruel as he was, Mok Riwon didn't let her stay in that line of thought. "I want to spend more time with you. There are things I want to learn." "Learn?" "Practical heroism, I do not know of it. The heroism I know exists only in stories, an illusory heroism. While I do not dislike it, I am aware. I know that reality is more cruel than stories. That one cannot become a heroic swordsman merely by chasing dreams." It was spoken too early by Mok Sun Oh and Ma Il Seok. That living in romance is part of being a heroic swordsman, but it doesn't mean ignoring reality. A true heroic swordsman should contemplate the heroism that can be executed within the confrontations of reality. "I want to know heroism. And I believe you are the only one who can teach me. Among all the people I know, you are the most righteous." Dang Hwa-Seo is a woman of reality. Yet, she is also altruistic. She has always been reflective and has continually strived to improve herself. That's why Mok Riwon liked her. He liked her character. The reason for his statement was not far from such feelings. "I want to know you. I wish to learn the righteousness by your side. If possible, I hope you find happiness in this process. Therefore, I will not part with you." Dang Hwa-Seo laughed weakly at Mok Riwon's extended speech. '...Why do you speak so ambiguously?' It was because Mok Riwon’s words were conveyed in a form too vague. Clearly, Mok Riwon was praising her righteousness, but his way of speaking was too sweet. Almost tempting her into misunderstanding, that's how he spoke. "...You won't regret it?" "Meeting you was the second fortune in my life. And my feelings will not change. So, I will not regret it." "What was the first?" "Being taken in by my master." After his master. Not bad. Only then did Dang Hwa-Seo truly realize that Mok Riwon would remain by her side. She expressed her joy. Overwhelmed, Dang Hwa-Seo conveyed her gratitude with a trembling voice. "...Thank you." "There's no need for thanks. It's natural." "Even so, thank you." Dang Hwa-Seo let go of Mok Riwon's hand. Then she reached out her arms and hugged him. It was an action taken in emotion, but Dang Hwa-Seo did not regret it immediately. A cool and warm scent. It was his scent that made her feel more comfort than embarrassment. The night after the Yongbong Branch meeting ended. Even the moon that had brightly risen seemed to hide behind the clouds for this moment. The shadows of the man and woman on the slightly darkened ground overlapped for a long time. * Three days passed quickly. Contrary to Dang Hwa-Seo's worries, really nothing happened. Seo Hyun was not quiet. After Mok Riwon's victory, Seo Hyun had been bustling to the point of never having a quiet moment, and the interest in Mok Riwon, who had displayed such astounding swordsmanship, skyrocketed endlessly. The famous families were even more troublesome. Those who had been waiting in the alleys Mok Riwon passed through were now heatedly coming up to the estate where his lodging was located. If this estate had not been operated by the Namgung family, Mok Riwon would have already been harassed into a mess by the encroaching famous families. Truly, he was in a situation where he couldn't carelessly make a move. However, contrary to his lively nature, Mok Riwon had been quiet for the past three days. The reason was nothing else. "Is he still inside?" "Yes. Mok Awu is amazing, isn't he? How can it be that he hasn't stepped out of that room for three days?" "He said he was training." "I heard he was consolidating his enlightenment." "We need to leave soon... It's getting too late..." Dang Hwa-Seo looked at the closed door of Mok Riwon's room with concern. But such a look wouldn't open the door. Mok Riwon had no time to mind the two people waiting outside now. Ssshhh- The room was filled with a light ink-colored Qi. Mok Riwon sat in the center of the room with his legs crossed, eyes closed. He was immersed in meditation, operating his Qi. Mok Riwon had many enlightenments to consolidate. The words softly thrown by the Sword Emperor Namgung Hyuk, various swordsmanship enlightenments gained from the duel, and the technical enlightenment obtained by using his true nature for the first time in his life. He was overlaying these unsorted enlightenments onto his visualization, one by one reliving them. 'I am merely a swordsman.' Nothing else. The stars assigned cannot define me, and the heart that wields the sword is entirely my own. Even my true nature is but a fragment that comprises a 'sword', hence as a swordsman, I should not be swayed by it. 'I truly accomplished it.' He got the clue from the duel with Namgung Jincheon. The Heavenly Killing Star wasn’t an uncontrollable star. Thus, this murderous intent, if one's will as a swordsman is strong enough, could certainly be overcome. 'Murderous intent is part of the sword, the star is also part of the sword.' As per Mok Sun Oh's long teaching, and as Namgung Hyuk said, the star was ultimately just a star. It was a sword given to me. Though it had a hideous appearance, even such a hideous sword could change its nature depending on who the swordsman is. 'Just a swordsman.' Mok Riwon reiterated to himself as he operated his Sengryeon Sin Gong Qi cultivation. He recited the formula in his mind. Ssshhh- Imagining a visualization akin to the dark night sky, three stars emerged against it. Mok Riwon gazed at them, then reached out his hand to touch behind the third star. A faint light began to emerge from that spot. 'Be the star of the sword.' Mok Riwon named the gathering light. True to its name, the newly engraved cluster of light twisted and turned, eventually beginning to burn in the shape of a sword. Once it fully settled into place, the stars voyaged. Starting from the first constellation, following a definite path. The orbit of the stars continued. The visualization that had been barely illuminated by the three constellations shone even brighter with the addition of the fourth constellation. Only after sensing that the fourth star had properly settled did Mok Riwon open his eyes. As he exhaled, his energy was gathered. Then, Mok Riwon's shoulders relaxed comfortably. He grinned. 'Four stars.' Although his energy wasn't sufficient to claim a complete four stars yet, even that would be resolved in a few hours. Mok Riwon did not suppress his rising joy and stretched himself. Then he rose from his place. Clang- He opened the door of the room. There, Dang Hwa-Seo and Jegal San were ready and waiting for him. "Let's go!" Mok Riwon declared, stepping forward. The destination was the arena where the finale took place. Today, Mok Riwon would become a dragon.