Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 321

321. The Tide of Battle: Victory or Defeat

The Twelve Divine Monks of the Emei Sect were not to be underestimated.

Ji Sim realized that the Ice Woman before her was no ordinary opponent.

At the same time, Ji Sim’s aura shifted.

*Swish.*

The boiling anger subsided.

The determination to kill also vanished.

Like still water, Ji Sim’s mind slowly settled into clarity.

And then, in the next moment…

*Woo-oong.*

Ji Sim’s sword began to resonate.

Soon, an unfamiliar energy manifested on her blade.

“Sword… Sword Qi!”

The expressions on the faces of onlookers changed instantly.

Although no longer exclusive to the Illusionary Rain Five Heavens, Sword Qi [a martial energy that extends the reach and power of a sword] was still a hallmark of supreme masters.

Even the great sects regarded those who could manifest Sword Qi as hidden trump cards.

But now, Ji Sim, the youngest of the Twelve Divine Monks, was generating Sword Qi in her first duel.

The faces of the clan leaders hardened, and even Dang Seol-yeon couldn’t completely mask her tension.

‘No, not all of the Twelve Divine Monks are at that level.’

Dang Seol-yeon coldly assessed the situation.

If all of the Twelve Divine Monks possessed the ability to manifest Sword Qi, three of them wouldn’t have perished when the Murim Alliance [a coalition of martial arts clans] collapsed.

Therefore, it was more likely that Ji Sim’s Sword Qi was an exceptional case among the Twelve Divine Monks.

‘If there’s anyone else with that potential…’

Since Ji Sim was the first to duel, it was reasonable to assume that there was at least one more supreme master capable of manifesting Sword Qi.

They wouldn’t send out their strongest warrior first, only to exhaust them.

‘Could it be Beop-yeong’s situation?’

Almost nothing was known about the martial arts of Beop-yeong, the second of the Twelve Divine Monks.

Dang Seol-yeon scanned the Emei Sect monks with sharp eyes.

However, among the thirty or so monks, there was no one else who particularly caught Dang Seol-yeon’s attention.

‘Hmph, anyway…’

The outcome of Emei collapsing today will not change.

Dang Seol-yeon turned her gaze back to the duel.

Sword Qi continued to rise from Ji Sim’s sword.

*Woo-oong.*

Ice Woman’s eyes remained unwavering.

Ji Sim knew clearly that the moment her hidden sword was revealed, the battle’s outcome would be decided.

‘Then…’

It was better to control the duel according to her will.

Ji Sim decided to make the first move.

“*Taha!*”

A thunderous shout erupted from Ji Sim.

And the Sword Qi tore through the air.

*Swoosh.*

Ji Sim, kicking off the ground, rushed towards Ice Woman like an arrow.

Only then did Ice Woman begin to move.

*Swish.*

Ice Woman’s hidden blade was revealed.

Ji Sim was confident of victory.

‘Got it.’

Ice Woman’s eyes were still the same, but her sword was too slow.

At this rate, Ji Sim’s sword could split Ice Woman in half before her sword was even fully drawn.

It was then.

‘Gasp.’

The moment a faint smile appeared on Ice Woman’s lips, the whole world seemed to slow down.

The sky, the ground, even the wind splitting from the tip of her sword moved in slow motion.

The only exception was Ice Woman’s sword.

*Swish.*

Ice Woman’s revealed sword was approaching Ji Sim.

But Ji Sim’s sword couldn’t move forward even an inch.

‘W-What is this?’

*Whoosh.*

Ice Woman’s sword gracefully cut through the wind towards Ji Sim.

Ji Sim was horrified and tried to retract her sword, but she couldn’t move even a fingertip as she wished.

No, she could move, but it was too slow.

*Sarak.*

In that moment, Ice Woman’s sword and Ji Sim’s sword met in the air.

The tip of Ice Woman’s sword landed lightly on the tip of Ji Sim’s sword, like a butterfly.

*Thud.*

A tremendous force pressed down on Ji Sim.

“Ugh!”

*Crack.*

The ground beneath Ji Sim’s feet caved in.

It was as if a mountain was pressing down, not only on the hand holding the sword but on her entire body.

Ji Sim instinctively tried to deflect the force.

But she wasn’t given the chance.

*Thwack.*

A tremendous force struck Ji Sim.

Ji Sim flew backward helplessly, like a kite with a broken string.

“Ji Sim!”

The moment Beop-yeong cried out in surprise, Hye-ryeong was already flying towards Ji Sim.

*Whizz.*

Hye-ryeong opened her arms wide and caught Ji Sim.

*Thud.*

‘Ugh.’

Hye-ryeong frowned at the tremendous force transmitted through Ji Sim.

But she couldn’t let go of Ji Sim.

*Tap, tap, tap.*

Hye-ryeong took three steps back.

Only then was she barely able to regain her balance.

“Samae [term for a junior female martial sibling]! Are you alright?”

But Ji Sim had already lost consciousness.

Hye-ryeong quickly tapped her pressure points and checked her pulse.

“Hoo.”

She had only lost consciousness from the great shock and had not suffered any serious internal injuries.

The sword she held onto even in this state seemed to speak of her determination.

“Quickly, inside!”

At Beop-yeong’s words, several nuns rushed over.

Only then did people begin to murmur.

“W-What? What happened?”

“What’s going on? It looked like she suddenly flew away…”

Few people could figure out what had happened.

But everyone could clearly see the result.

*Swish.*

Ice Woman slowly sheathed her sword.

People watched with bated breath as her sword returned to its scabbard.

*Tap.*

Ice Woman stood there with a blank expression.

As if urging the next duelist to step forward.

“Heh heh.”

The Third Palace Lord laughed.

“Well done, Bingseol. It seems a bit much, though.”

She also recognized the Ice Soul Way [a martial arts technique].

Because Ice Woman’s sword technique just now was too similar to what Un-hyeon had shown against the charging cavalry.

Still, the result was satisfactory.

Above all, the Third Palace Lord was pleased to see the arrogant members of the Taepyung Alliance [a martial arts alliance] murmuring in surprise.

Dang Seol-yeon was no exception to being surprised.

“What happened?”

Without realizing it, Dang Seol-yeon asked.

The short old man standing behind her replied quietly.

“It seems she used the technique of ‘Transplanting Flowers onto a Tree’.”

The old man, Dang Byeok-hu, was the hidden trump card of the Dang Clan.

He was a supreme master of Poisonous Energy Art, unmatched even within the Dang Clan except for poison techniques.

“Transplanting Flowers onto a Tree?”

The technique of ‘Transplanting Flowers onto a Tree’ involves redirecting the opponent’s power to twist the outcome.

However, that was only possible when one had a perfect understanding of the opponent’s moves and internal energy manipulation—in other words, only against third-rate martial arts.

How could ‘Transplanting Flowers onto a Tree’ be possible against Ji Sim, one of the Twelve Divine Monks of the Emei Sect and a supreme master of Sword Qi manifestation?

However, the old man, Dang Byeok-hu, said calmly.

“Perhaps so.”

Dang Seol-yeon was surprised once again.

She couldn’t believe that Dang Byeok-hu was giving such an ambiguous answer.

‘What on earth…’

Dang Seol-yeon turned her head to look at Ice Woman.

Ice Woman still stood there with a blank expression.

*Clench.*

Dang Seol-yeon gritted her teeth.

The leisurely smile had disappeared, and anger began to rise in her eyes.

Unlike the murmuring Taepyung Alliance, a somber atmosphere settled over the Emei Sect.

How could it not, after seeing Ji Sim, who had manifested Sword Qi, fly away in an instant?

Beop-yeong gritted her teeth.

‘I have no choice.’

*Swish.*

Just as she was about to get up…

“Stop.”

“Sa, Sago [term for a senior female martial artist in a Buddhist sect].”

The nun who stopped Beop-yeong was none other than Cheonsu Shinni.

Although not known to the outside world, she was a former master of the Emei Sect who had already entered Seondong (禪洞) [a secluded meditation chamber] due to her old age.

In the Emei Sect, entering Seondong was a very honorable thing, given only to those who had devoted their lives to Buddhism and maintained their nobility.

However, at Beop-yeong’s desperate plea, Cheonsu Shinni had left Seondong.

Even if her honor was tarnished, she could not stand by and watch the crisis of Emei.

“She is not someone you can handle.”

Cheonsu Shinni said quietly.

“Bu, but…”

Beop-yeong was taken aback.

She knew that Ice Woman was formidable.

It was neither sorcery nor trickery.

But for Cheonsu Shinni to step forward?

Moreover, if Cheonsu Shinni, who should have been the last resort, stepped forward now, what would happen afterward?

“Then what about the next…”

“If we cannot stop that woman…”

Cheonsu Shinni said quietly.

“There is no next.”

Beop-yeong had no words to answer.

Cheonsu Shinni’s words were correct.

If they could not stop Ice Woman, there would be no next.

However, Cheonsu Shinni’s words were not over yet.

She recited a small Buddhist chant and said.

“If I lose, do not send anyone else out.”

Beop-yeong was startled.

She couldn’t believe that Cheonsu Shinni would even consider defeat.

“Th, that can’t be…!”

“There is no need to increase unnecessary sacrifices, is there?”

Cheonsu Shinni’s voice was calm.

Her words were correct.

If Cheonsu Shinni lost, no one could defeat Ice Woman.

But Beop-yeong couldn’t accept it.

Neither the fact that Cheonsu Shinni was considering defeat, nor the fact that the Emei Sect might end today.

Leaving the bewildered Beop-yeong behind, Cheonsu Shinni got up.

*Sarak.*

Cheonsu Shinni, who held nothing, moved forward without hesitation.

“Sa, Sago…”

Beop-yeong bit her lip, unable to stop her.

In fact, Cheonsu Shinni was one of the greatest masters in the history of the Emei Sect.

If the world of Murim had been chaotic, her name would probably have echoed throughout the world.

However, the Murim Alliance era did not allow her to show her skills.

The world of Murim was dominated by schemes and the logic of alliances rather than individual martial arts.

Thus, Cheonsu Shinni’s name had to remain within Mount Emei.

Perhaps it was fortunate.

Because she was able to focus solely on training and meditation without being obsessed with vain fame and worldly interests.

Thus, Cheonsu Shinni seemed destined to quietly end her life in Seondong on Mount Emei.

If only the Taepyung Alliance had not harbored the ambition to swallow Emei.

So, Cheonsu Shinni was the only person Beop-yeong felt she could entrust the fate of Emei to.

*Sabeok.*

Cheonsu Shinni, wrapped in an old monk’s robe, stepped forward.

At the sight, the murmuring Taepyung Alliance fell silent.

“It’s Cheonsu Shinni.”

Dang Seol-yeon said, biting her lip.

“Yes. It is Cheonsu Shinni.”

The old man Dang Byeok-hu nodded quietly.

The Dang Clan already knew about Cheonsu Shinni.

That’s why Dang Byeok-hu was needed.

“For Cheonsu Shinni to come out already…”

But she had already stepped forward.

Ice Woman of the Bukhae Ilmun [a martial arts clan] had forced her to come out.

‘How dare you ruin my plan?’

Dang Seol-yeon glared at Ice Woman with venomous eyes.

Cheonsu Shinni’s appearance meant that the duel was heading towards its end.

It was much faster and too different from Dang Seol-yeon’s plan.

She asked Dang Byeok-hu quietly.

“Can Bukhae Ilmun defeat Cheonsu Shinni?”

If it had been the old Dang Seol-yeon, she would have considered that question foolish.

But now, the possibility had become fifty-fifty.

“…I don’t know.”

Dang Byeok-hu replied.