chapter 169
Bang-woo lifted his head.
“Are you really going to kill that child?”
From his gaze toward Ye-il, there was a distinct sense of moderate conviction and stubbornness.
But Bang-woo wasn’t merely looking at her.
There was clearly something he was urging and demanding with that look. Against the head of the Wi family, who was nothing more than a stranger, the layers of resentment and anxiety he carried were thick and extraordinary.
“You mean the child of the Ye family, who was entrusted to the Cho family. If the list of deaths isn’t the reason… do you truly intend to eliminate that child along with Ko?”
Along with that, there was an incongruous feeling that couldn’t mix with the two.
Expectation.
It was clear from reflecting on Bang-woo’s nature what he was hoping for. Surely, he wanted Ye-il not to harm the child.
However, that sense of expectation was strangely unsettling. When he was angry, he was angry; when he hated, he hated. Why would he harbor expectation?
It was as if he were saying: you must do it.
As if… only then could he recognize her as the one he had come to know.
Bang-woo had only formed a connection with the head of the Wi family a few days ago. The “her” that appeared in his eyes must have been someone other than the Wi family head.
That was it.
Bang-woo had realized Ye-il’s true identity.
“Impressive. Quick to react.”
It was true that she had let slip some hints of her identity.
But the reason her actions had drawn his attention? That would be hard to explain if asked.
…No, the reason was clear.
The reason she had deliberately provoked Bang-woo—someone she considered insignificant—was likely because this meeting would be their last.
Bang-woo must also be given a chance for revenge.
Then the answer Ye-il would give was predetermined.
“Is there a reason not to?”
Had he still held onto a single glimmer of hope? Bang-woo’s gaze slowly darkened.
“If killing is the only way to survive, then I will kill. Whether the opponent is a child or an adult, nothing will change.”
“…Harming the weak is not the way of a righteous man.”
“That doesn’t matter either. I’m not a righteous man.”
“No. That’s not true. A righteous man is one who wields the sword and must uphold benevolence and justice.”
Bang-woo’s gaze slowly fell as he spoke, no longer at Ye-il’s face, but near her feet.
His heavy, grounded voice calmly admonished Ye-il.
“Promise me. That under no circumstances will you harm the innocent.”
“Arrogant. I have no reason to make such a promise to you.”
“Promise me. Otherwise, I will stop you.”
“Do you think you have the right to do that? You are not only arrogant, you are presumptuous.”
Bang-woo slowly rose to his feet. Still avoiding Ye-il’s gaze, he spoke with a fiercer intensity than before.
“Even if you think it arrogant, it doesn’t matter. Promise me.”
“Be rational. You are no match for me.”
Remember that you are here representing the Martial Alliance.
Remember that this is a priceless chance to kill Cheon Mu-ryeong, the most evil of them all.
…She should have warned him, but she didn’t.
“You’ll gain nothing with such half-hearted attitude.”
Ye-il mocked Bang-woo, who, after long awaiting revenge, could not let go of hope before her.
“You will watch and lose, just like before. Even now…”
At that moment, the light in Bang-woo’s eyes went out.
For a brief instant, the world seemed to stop.
When he blinked, the opponent was already flying toward him.
Ye-il met Bang-woo’s strike.
The clash of the two swords sent waves of energy, and the black mask fluttered wildly. Her neatly clenched teeth were bared as if to tear her lower lip.
Soon, a very familiar martial art began to unfold in Ye-il’s eyes.
“Did you enjoy it?”
Her gaze, brimming with old, viscous hatred and anger, pierced down at Ye-il.
At the same time, the opponent’s mental disruption unleashed a flurry of sword strikes. The sudden release of energy from the sword exploded outward like petals of a flower, giving it its name:
Plum Blossom Sword Technique.
“Those moments when you belittled and looked down on me… were they so enjoyable?”
The first move Bang-woo had displayed in front of Ye-il at Mount Hwasan replayed in her mind and before her eyes.
[“Once again, I must say I’m still far from proficient. I only showed five moves today at Yeon-woo Sa-jeo’s request, but later I intend to ask Il-woon Sa-hyung…”]
[“You’re funny. You spent all day practicing today because of Yeon-woo Sa-jeo’s request.”]
[“Please be quiet, Seon-hye Sa-jeo. That was just my usual training.”]
[“Usual, my foot. Sure, you’re diligent in everything, but staying up all night to train… hmph, hmph!”]
[“Sa-jeo, it’s your mouth that’s the problem.”]
Bang-woo, though burdened, confidently displayed the moves.
Seon-hye, teasing him, yet held her breath and concentrated whenever he executed a technique.
Recalling those days made Ye-il flinch at her fingertips. Two years of secretly learned martial arts were calling to her. Ye-il and Bang-woo could clearly perform the same techniques.
But…
“Why are you standing still?”
Ye-il didn’t want to.
Bang-woo’s lips twisted more harshly.
“You know the Plum Blossom Sword Technique. Shouldn’t you show me a move? Occasionally you advised Seon-hye Sa-jeo and me, saying our strikes felt like falling lightning rather than plum blossoms, and that we should lighten the weight!”
“I don’t use that martial art.”
It wasn’t hers.
With that, Ye-il’s movements instantly shifted path.
From the tip of her sword, the Paechun Heavy Sword unfolded.
The silent surge mercilessly slashed the continuously falling plum blossoms. Hundreds of leaves fell at once into the depths below, just like Cheon Mu-ryeong’s sword—without a trace of mercy.
Not only the petals, but also the wielder was affected.
Whoosh—
The single strike that cut through the flurry reached Bang-woo.
The chaotic flurry paused. At the same time, a long gash appeared above his right eyebrow, and red blood dripped down.
Ye-il looked at Bang-woo, who was forced to catch his breath, and said:
“This is my martial art.”
“……”
“It’s Cheon Mu-ryeong’s technique. The sword I use is only this one.”
“What on earth are you—”
Bang-woo clenched his fists and shouted, as if vomiting words:
“What do you want?! Why are you here? What is sincere?! That night… the night you betrayed me, why did you stop Seon-hye Sa-jeo?!”
“I never stopped Seon-hye.”
“Why… why on earth! You saved me and the Fourth Hall Master!”
“I never saved you or the Fourth Hall Master either.”
Perhaps due to Ye-il’s consistently cold attitude, Bang-woo, who seemed to lose his mind briefly, regained his composure and let out a hollow laugh.
“You didn’t stop her? You, who acted like you knew everything, still didn’t know some things… Seon-hye Sa-jeo survived. For two whole days.”
Bang-woo’s voice, reciting the words, carried deep confusion in his eyes.
Ye-il was inwardly greatly surprised.
“Two whole days alive?”
She had thought Seon-hye had died instantly after ingesting poison at Hwasan. Even with her insides dissolved, she had survived two days?
“Unable to see, speak, or hear… Seon-hye Sa-jeo left only three writings behind.”
“……”
“The tea from the chief contained poison. And…”
“……”
“Yeon-woo Sa-jeo tried to stop me, but that day I was foolish and didn’t realize her sincerity. Yeon-woo Sa-jeo… what became of her?”
