Chapter 9
Young Lady Yu advanced, leading with her sword.
“*Kuaaaaaah—!!*”
*At that moment, Wi Yongmyeong seemed to have gone berserk, his entire body drenched in demonic energy, his physique distorting unevenly.*
Perhaps the transformation was agonizing, for he tore at his own head, letting out a monstrous shriek.
By all appearances, he seemed to have lost his reason.
He was so consumed by pain that he didn't even glance her way, giving her a moment to catch her breath.
“...”
Trembling.
*My body is trembling. I'm afraid.*
*It's less intense now, but the gut-wrenching pain I felt earlier feels like it could return at any moment.*
Nevertheless, she gripped her sword and stepped forward to face him.
There were several reasons, the first being a sense of responsibility.
No matter what, Wi Yongmyeong had once been a part of the Shanxi Yu Clan. It was only natural that she, a blood relative of the Shanxi Yu Clan, should be the one to deal with him.
And the second reason... was what that Bandit had just said.
*‘If things end like this today, you'll find it hard to ever wield a sword again.’*
*Even now, the hand holding my sword trembles from fear.*
*If I close my eyes to what happened today and leave the responsibility to someone else... I won't be able to overcome today's memories and will never be able to wield a sword again.*
*“No...”*
She was a proud member of the Shanxi Yu Clan. She even harbored the bold ambition of becoming the Strongest Under Heaven.
*“I want Young Lady Yu to become a Swordsman whose name is known throughout the world, beyond the Shanxi Region.”*
Though it was the words of a despicable and vile fellow, she somehow felt a surge of encouragement.
Yoo Somyung resolved to pull herself together and...
“*Hwoooo...*”
After taking a deep breath, she shouted at Wi Yongmyeong.
“You traitor—!!”
“*Kweeeeh...?*”
At Yoo Somyung's cry, Wi Yongmyeong, despite his agony, raised his head.
“Fight me again! This time, I will surely punish you.”
“You... the daughter of the Shanxi Yu Clan... Yoo Somyung...!”
In that instant, his eyes flashed. The dark red demonic energy also surged even blacker from his body.
“You lucky bitch—!! If I were you...! If I were you—!!”
“What...?”
“If I were as young as you... if I had been born into the Shanxi Yu Clan... if I could have focused solely on Martial Arts without worrying about making a living—!!”
Wi Yongmyeong's body was no longer human, and his mind was far from sound.
Raw hatred and resentment poured from his mouth.
“I could have reached a higher realm—!! But what are you people?! You were born with far too much...! You foolish wretches...! What a waste... if I had been born into the Shanxi Yu Clan, I could have become someone far greater—!!”
His words, long devoid of coherent meaning, were nothing but curses. They were enough to make any listener feel ill, yet...
“How pathetic...”
“What...?”
“The Elder Wi I knew wasn't like this.”
Yoo Somyung, on the contrary, felt her heart settle, and her fear receded slightly.
*“Young Lady, the night wind is cold. Please always be careful not to catch a chill.”*
Even if it was a facade, Wi Yongmyeong had been a kind person. Yoo Somyung recalled that image of him, gripped her sword, and leaped.
*‘I'll save you from that hellish cycle of demonic possession.’*
She didn't know it, but the moment she steeled her heart and raised her sword, the wall that had stood before her began to crack.
**
“*Chaeng—! Chaeng, chaeng—!!*”
“*Ugh...*”
Wi Yongmyeong had already lost his reason, so his attacks were no different from those of a beast.
Yoo Somyung thought she could continue the fight more easily than before, but...
“*Kwaang—!*”
“*Ugh...*”
This was a mistaken belief.
Although Wi Yongmyeong had lost his reason, in return, his physical abilities had been tremendously amplified.
She was originally quick-footed, but as she clashed sword against fist, her stamina gradually dwindled, while...
“*Kuaaaaaah—!!*”
...Wi Yongmyeong, seemingly tireless, began to increase his speed even further.
Naturally, this put a strain on Yoo Somyung.
She also increased her speed and swung her sword diligently, but Swift Sword was useless when facing an opponent faster than herself.
*“I need to find another way...”*
Several other Sword Arts came to Yoo Somyung's mind, but their proficiency was inferior compared to the Inherited Martial Art, Willow Flower Sword Art.
*“In the end, it has to be the Willow Flower Sword Art...”*
*I can't defeat Wi Yongmyeong with speed. The Willow Flower Sword Art is a Swift Sword Art, so how can I counter him?*
Just as her mind began to fill with worry, a remark from that Bandit earlier resurfaced in a corner of her thoughts.
Having trained in the Willow Flower Sword Art for over a decade, she knew it better than anyone. The Willow Flower Sword Art was a Swift Sword Art.
*“What could an outsider possibly know to say such a thing...”*
However, if not for the Bandit's advice, there was no way out of her current predicament. So, Yoo Somyung, despite the urgency, looked around as he had suggested.
*“What could possibly be around here...”*
Other Martial Artists still engaged in skirmishes, the Training Ground's floor in disarray, a slightly cracked wall, the Pavilion where she lived.
Having lived here since birth, nothing in her surroundings struck her as particularly special.
*“What could it be... Ah...”*
It was then that her eyes fell upon the enormous willow tree planted in front of the Family Head's Hall, beyond the wall.
Unlike other willow trees, this one was centuries old, said to have been planted by the Founder of the Shanxi Yu Clan.
From that tree, the willow became a symbol of the Shanxi Yu Clan and the Willow Flower Sword Art.
Of course, it was important to the Shanxi Yu Clan, but in the current situation, it held little meaning...
Wait.
*‘The Willow Flower Sword Art is a sword art whose profound principles are derived from the form of a willow tree... but it's a Swift Sword Art...’*
A question first began to form in Yoo Somyung's mind.
And then... from a forgotten childhood memory... her Father's words began to resurface.
**
*‘Somyung-ah... did you know? The Willow Flower Sword Art you're learning now is different from the one the Founder first created.’*
*“Huh? Why?”*
*‘The old Shanxi Yu Clan wasn't as powerful as it is now. After enduring many trials, the original Willow Flower Sword Art was unfortunately lost.’*
*“Then the current Willow Flower Sword Art is...”*
When young Yoo Somyung asked with a worried gaze, her Father, Yu Haseong, the current Family Head of the Shanxi Yu Clan, gently stroked her head and said.
*‘Don't worry. The Fifth Family Head, who was as skilled in swordsmanship as the First Family Head, recreated the Willow Flower Sword Art.’*
*“The Fifth Family Head...”*
*“Yes, he was the one who revived our Shanxi Yu Clan. The Willow Flower Sword Art he created, embodying the Profound Principle of Speed, is one of the most outstanding Sword Arts in the world.”*
*‘Wow, that's a relief!’*
Young Yoo Somyung smiled brightly, and her Father stroked her head.
However, she had seen it.
Her Father's wistful expression, a bitter smile tinged with regret. And...
*“Still, I wish I could see the lost Willow Flower Sword Art with my own eyes...”*
...her Father's soft murmur, as if speaking to himself.
Why was that memory from the past surfacing now?
*‘The Willow Flower Sword Art isn't just a sword art embodying the Profound Principle of Speed. If you don't understand, look around and recall what I said earlier. Then you'll see the way.’*
Indeed, the form of a willow tree seemed far removed from the Profound Principle of Speed. If that was the case...
*At that moment.*
“*Whoosh—.*”
A strong gust of wind, enough to scatter hair, blew past. And... Yoo Somyung, who had been watching the willow tree out of the corner of her eye during the battle, saw it.
The willow branches, bending with the wind but never breaking...
*‘Young Lady Yu. Look, with the Profound Principle of Grasping, when an opponent's fist comes flying, you receive it like this and deflect it to the side. Guys who use fists absolutely love it when you do that.’*
Ah.
“*Kuaaaaaah—!! Die—!!*”
“*Pweok—!*”
Perhaps because she was distracted during the fight, Yoo Somyung failed to properly defend against Wi Yongmyeong's attack.
However...
“The Profound Principle of Grasping of Grasping...”
She felt as if her eyes had been opened, like a scholar who had found an answer.
“*Kuaaaaaah—!!*”
Yoo Somyung organized her thoughts as she watched Wi Yongmyeong charge towards her.
The Willow Flower Sword Art was a Sword Art derived from the form of a willow tree.
Having lived with willow trees for almost her entire life, Yoo Somyung knew and loved them well.
She loved the subtly fragrant willow blossoms when they bloomed.
She loved the willow branches that waved to her when the wind blew.
Gentleness and softness.
These were the essence of the Shanxi Yu Clan and the foundation of the Willow Flower Sword Art.
“If I apply the Profound Principle of Grasping here...”
“*Hwoooong—!!*”
A fist, moving at a much faster speed than before, flew towards Yoo Somyung.
For her, whose stamina was lower than usual, this attack would have been difficult to even evade, let alone block, but...
“*Swoosh—.*”
Yoo Somyung did not dodge; instead, she adopted a stance.
And then...
“*Kagagagak—!!*”
Wi Yongmyeong's attack reached Yoo Somyung but was deflected to the side.
She had successfully defended in a manner similar to what the Bandit had shown earlier. And then...
“*Srrreureu—.*”
Yoo Somyung's sword naturally curved and struck Wi Yongmyeong's outstretched arm...
“*Chwaak—!*”
...leaving a long gash.
“...!”
Wi Yongmyeong had already lost his reason, but he instinctively sensed that something was wrong.
“Gentleness, softness, the Profound Principle of Grasping...”
From her, muttering as if engrossed in something, not a trace of Killing Intent could be felt, yet Wi Yongmyeong was pushed back by her Aura for some unknown reason.
Soon... her sword was raised...
“*Paaat—!*”
As she slowly leaped, her fading eyes completely lost their focus.
“*As expected, the Heroine of the novel is different... She achieved enlightenment in less than One Da-gyeong...*”
With someone's incomprehensible murmur, Yoo Somyung's consciousness completely drifted away.
It was the State of Selflessness.