Try Living Well Without Me

A young woman with chestnut-tinted hair sat crouched, absently moving her fingers.

Her name is So So Namgung.

Her profession is that of a martial artist, and her nickname is Flying Flower, one of the Seven Flowers of the martial world.

For some reason, however, she looked rather unlike one of the Seven Flowers right now.

Swish.

So So Namgung dragged a short stick across the dirt with her pinched fingers.

The small branch was hardly three inches long.

Swoosh, scrape.

After mixing up the dirt a few times, a look of astonishment spread across her otherwise vacant expression.

Her unconscious creation turned out to be none other than the mask Byul Rak always wore.

Even the sharp ears protruding out of the mask and the neatly chopped short hair were perfectly replicated.

“This… What is this…!”

So So Namgung hastily shook the stick, blurring the drawing of Byul Rak.

After a brief moment of confusion, she stared blankly for a while, then:

Swish, scrape.

On the erased marks, she began to draw again, seemingly unaware of what she was doing.

Swoosh, whoosh.

Finishing the new drawing, So So Namgung inspected it and frowned deeply.

The delicate brows creased with wrinkles in a peculiar but oddly fitting manner.

“Ugh…!”

An exasperated sigh escaped her lips.

What she had superimposed upon Byul Rak was Namgung Cheolbin, the Sword Sage.

A name so tarnished now as to render his nickname meaningless, yet a name that still stirred something deep within her.

“Arggh… Just go away…!”

Still crouched, So So Namgung raised her fist to strike the drawing of Namgung Cheolbin.

Whoosh!

However, her knuckles froze mere inches from the face, and after trembling for a bit, she collapsed face-first onto the dirt instead.

Her face now pressed against the drawing of Namgung Cheolbin.

Crunch, crunch…

As So So Namgung rocked her head and upper body back and forth, a new drawing formed on top of Namgung Cheolbin’s features.

Believing this to distort Namgung Cheolbin’s image, she took pleasure in continuing her head movements, unaware that she was actually creating an image of herself kissing him.

The day of the Seven arrived.

“Are you nervous?”

“…No, I trust the training I’ve had with Uncle.”

“You’re trembling.”

“Ugh…”

Always composed, Gayoung Jin seemed unable to contain her tension this time.

It was understandable.

In the world of martial artists, the “Nine Dragons and Seven Flowers” were essentially the “Junior Twelve Patriarchs.”

When other young talents were struggling between second and first class, these individuals had already reached the peak level.

By the time they reached forty or fifty, they would be at the super peak level.

Among them, usually one stood out and eventually entered the Five Greats of the land.

“Do you have any experience with this, Uncle?”

“Experience with the sparring for a spot in the Nine Dragons and Seven Flowers?”

“Yes, Uncle is so strong.”

“I never did.”

Because I was known as the Divine Sword back when others were still considered as part of the Nine and Seven.

Namgung Bin was the Sword Dragon, and Namgung So So was Flying Flower.

“Hmm… Why didn’t Uncle have that experience?”

“It’s because I wasn’t good enough. And the young Miss here is talented, which is why you’re having this experience.”

“…Stop saying that. How could Uncle be anything but great?”

“Hurry and prepare. It’s almost time.”

“By the way, I briefly encountered Flying Flower earlier, and she looked like she was in a really bad state—like she could collapse at any moment.”

“Don’t let your guard down. Accepting the challenge means she has something hidden up her sleeve.”

“Hmm, so she probably didn’t accept this for no reason?”

“Flying Flower was around fifteen years old… That’s when the Great Blood Battle broke out. She played a crucial role from the start to the end of that war. She’s far from an easy opponent.”

“I know that too. I’ve heard that story of her infiltrating the Blood Cult headquarters alone and bringing back the Sword Sage until I’m sick of it.”

“…”

Although it might have been unnecessary worry,

Gayoung Jin seemed overly concerned about Flying Flower.

What I meant to prevent her from being too relaxed might have backfired.

Crinkle.

“What’s that?”

“Chicken drumstick.”

Therefore, when we descended after the sparring is over and she seemed tired, I had this chicken drumstick ready to give her.

The sweet and savory scent of well-seasoned chicken wafted invitingly.

“Are you giving this to me?”

“Generally, people feel more at ease after eating.”

“Hey… Did you prepare this for me?”

“I shall not respond to that.”

“Anyway, since Uncle offered it, I’ll eat it well.”

Crunch.

Indeed, as she chewed the chicken, her trembling became more and more subdued.

It seemed her face was gradually losing its tension too.

“Come forth, Sword Flower!”

A voice from outside the tent called out to Gayoung Jin.

I tapped her on the back and offered words of encouragement.

“Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. In the eyes of this ‘master’, this sparring will be a certain victory for you.”

Gayoung Jin responded with a bright smile.

“Thank you!”

Then, from the outside again urging her on:

“Sword Flower, please come forth quickly! There isn’t much time left for the spar!”

“Alright~ I’m coming!”

Saying this, just before leaving the room, Gayoung Jin turned around and waved at me.

I waved back as a way of seeing her off.

After bidding her farewell, a solitary period arrived.

Come to think of it, I have nothing to do.

“Excuse me, may I ask something?”

So I approached one of the Hwangsan Sword School members and struck up a conversation.

“Where should I go to observe the sparring between the Flying Flower and the Sword Flower?”

Because I was wearing the outer robe of the Taewon Jin Clan, he stiffened as he answered.

“You seem to not be familiar with our sword school’s sparring methods.”

“Is there a special method?”

“All sparrings in this Hwangsan Sword School takes place in a sealed chamber. The door is shut to prevent any outsiders from entering, and the sparring happens in a private space only for the combatants, which allows them to focus solely on the duel without external distractions.”

In a sealed chamber, is it?

I’ve never heard of such a thing.

“However, isn’t Flying Flower known for her fast footwork and lightness skills? Can she fully utilize her abilities in a sealed chamber?”

“You don’t need to worry about that. Although it’s a sealed room, it’s as large as a regular training ground.”

“Is that so? Then could you tell me the location of the entrance?”

“Heh! Are you planning to just stand there dumbfounded? If the door opens, Sword Flower might come out, isn’t it inappropriate to loiter there?”

“Hmm, can’t that be unknown?”

“Well… If you really insist, I can’t not tell you. Keep going down this hallway, and you’ll reach a forked path. Go straight to the right, and you’ll find a huge door about twice a person’s height. That’s the entrance to the dueling chamber.”

Since he didn’t seem to have any good feelings towards me, I quickly bowed my head and stepped away before proceeding exactly as the man instructed.

After about half an hour of walking, just as the man described, a large door came into view.

Expanding a subtle sense, I could feel the presence of Gayoung Jin and So So Namgung inside.

Seems there really are no outside disturbances at all as stated.

‘So do they not need a referee?’

A question briefly arose in my mind but was instantly dismissed.

They’re not children but peak-level martial artists; they’ll handle it themselves.

Plop.

I leaned against the door and sat down.

There’s nothing left to do but wait here until either Gayoung Jin or So So Namgung comes out.

It’s strange.

It feels like I’m facing a ghost.

To the point where I’m questioning if this is the same Flying Flower I saw a few days ago.

“I, a junior martial artist, greet you, Senior. I am Sword Flower, Gayoung Jin.”

“…I am Namgung So So.”



Taking a bow to greet her, but she doesn’t respond at all.

She just answers briefly with a vacant look on her face.

It was obvious that she wasn’t looking at me, without needing to check.

So So Namgung is looking at something behind me.

Whatever it is, I don’t know.

“Then…may we begin?”

“Yes.”

I want to ask if she’s even planning to spar.

But instinct tells me otherwise.

This is an opportunity.

Let’s not get distracted.

This isn’t a sparring match to compare martial arts skills.

It’s a duel fought with honor for the title of Seven Blossoms.

Pang!

Kicking off the ground, I charge at Byul Rak.

Who hasn’t even properly gripped her sword, leaving her full of openings.

Whoosh-

Having seized the initiative, I won’t give up my attack.

With that mindset, I swing my sword in a large horizontal arc.

How will Byul Rak block this?

Kwaang!

Thud- Clang!

“Huh?”

“…”

My sword colliding with Byul Rak’s sent hers flying into the wall.

Stunned by the absurd scene, I stand dumbfounded while Byul Rak slowly approaches her sword embedded in the wall, gripping the hilt with both hands.

Surprisingly, she’s struggling to pull it out of the stone wall, grunting with the effort.

“Still…can’t do it…”

Muttering incomprehensible things, Byul Rak takes her stance again.

Yet her exposed ankle is trembling.

This hardly feels like a real sparring match.

“Uh…shall we continue?”

“Come on.”

“Damn it, if you get hurt, that’s not my responsibility!”

Pang!

I unleash a technique that’s hard to block with the Fukiryu sword style that Uncle taught me.

Unlike the Fukiryu style focused on precision points, this maximizes speed, slashing my sword in all directions.

Certainly, Byul Rak wobbles helplessly each time our swords collide, eventually…

“Flying…?”

Kuwaang!

“Kyeough!”

Wait a moment.

Isn’t this getting dangerous?

“Grk…still no match…”

Is a person supposed to go flying just from a sword clash?

She’s no different from an ordinary person.

No, come to think of it, there’s no inner energy in Byul Rak’s sword at all… could she be letting me win?

“Ugh! Hack, hack…”

That’s not it – there’s no way she’d let me win while taking injuries and coughing up blood.

“Uh…are you alright? Do you want to forfeit now?”

Right now, Byul Rak looks like she can’t use inner energy rather than choosing not to…

“Like this…I can’t bring him…”

Even in this state, Byul Rak mutters to herself.

To be muttering in this condition – her mind must be unhinged.

“With my dantian not responding…there’s nothing I can do…”

…What?

She said her dantian isn’t responding?

“Wh-What did you just say!?”

“It’s not like I cared about lifespan or anything…”

“…”

Lifespan…?

Did I just hear that wrong?

“Older brother was gone, what value was there in my existence…”

Older brother?

Her only older brothers were Uncle and the previous Sword Dragon, Bin Namgung…

“Living as I pleased…and then dying…was the plan…”

“…?”

“That person…I need to see his face to close my eyes in peace…”

Kwaang!

With the determination of someone making a resolve, Byul Rak mutters.

And an overwhelming aura bursts forth.

“Hey, little miss.”

Byul Rak speaks to me.

Completely different from before.

Even putting aside her changed tone, the bone-chilling sensation of a blade ready to sever my neck wraps around my throat.

My hand unconsciously moves to my throat, despite not holding a sword.

“Give up while you still can.”

“N-No way…uhn!”

Now she wants me to give up? I want to retort that she’s talking nonsense…

Kugugugu!

Is it because she can’t control the tremendous energy that her hair is floating in the air? The pressure is immense.

‘What…what is the source of that explosive energy!’

Pajik!

“Damn, I thought I’d discarded the Heavenly Thunder Energy completely…so my essence truly is Namgung after all.”

Thunder begins to crash from her sword.

Somewhere along the way, a bright flashing belt of lightning has formed around her.

Kwaang!!

The absurd thunderous energy emanating from Byul Rak’s lithe form makes my whole body tingle.

“N-No way…she’s at the same level as me…?”

It seems like she could crush any peak master, and maybe even take on a supreme master…

“So, little miss.”

It’s not from the dantian.

This more fundamental, purer energy…

…Could it be?

“It’s my turn to attack now.”

Swoosh!

My vision begins to blur red.

Kwaang-Kwaang-Kwaang!!

As hard as I try to block with my sword…

“Indeed, that Byul fellow must have trained you properly. If we had fought conventionally, I would have lost.”

Squeak.

“Khuck!?”

Moving too fast to be seen properly, Byul Rak attacks me.

While flashes of light continue to obscure my vision, every time I swing my sword, I just slash through empty air.

Even now, I can feel a sharp pain on the back of my calf.

‘So…this is the peak master level?’

Using the advantages of swift sword energy, she moves with sword-body as one in a way that rivals Sword-Spirit Unification.

Shashashak!

Byul Rak dives at me again, transformed into a single blade of light.

“Huff!”

This time, I succeed in catching her movement by concentrating my inner energy in my eyes to their limits…

Though I see her, the question is how to block.

“Damn, it’s all or nothing.”

Rather than blocking, I thrust my sword upward, preparing a counterattack.

If Byul Rak attacks me, she might be able to cut me, but her neck will be pierced.

‘Tearing open my stomach won’t kill me, right?’

With that thought, I actually attempt the mutually assured destruction technique, which would likely end with Byul Rak taking a step back.

“Huff!”

Whirl!

Instead of withdrawing her sword, Byul Rak twists her body and approaches at a speed I can’t react to…

Thud!

“Khff…”

Before I know it, she’s driven a punch into my lower abdomen.

Woosh.

My senses grow hazy and I lose my balance, stumbling to one knee.

Click.

Byul Rak props me up on her shoulder as I fall.

“That’s enough, right? It seems further sparring is impossible.”

“B-But…”

“Don’t be greedy. Check what’s flowing from the corner of your mouth.”

Gulp.

“Khough! Ughh…”

“I’ve made your internal injuries a bit more severe so you won’t be getting up again. You might recover with time, but now just give up already.”

Looking down, I see So So Namgung’s martial uniform damp with my red blood.

It’s my blood.

“If you keep going, you’ll really be in mortal danger. Anyway, the Seven Blossoms title is yours now, little miss, so it’s better to stop here… Hmm, damn. Did I overuse it back then?”

Drip.

“Byul…Byul Rak? What’s wrong with you…?”

A crimson river of blood streams from Byul Rak’s nose who was trying to persuade me to give up.

That’s definitely not blood from internal injuries.

It’s something more fundamental, more basic that’s been damaged… Could she really have used that power?

“A-Are you crazy!?”

“Answer quickly. Are you giving up or not?”

“No matter how important the sparring is, using primordial energy is crazy! Do you want to die?”

“What does it matter to you if some Namgung uses what energy they want?”

For just the Seven Blossoms title, risking your life to use Primordial Energy?

Even if you’ve lost your mind, that’s not rational behavior.

By the way, what did Byul Rak just say?

“What do you mean the Seven Blossoms title is yours now?”

“Jeez, you’re curious about a lot of things. Initially, whether you win or lose,Seven Blossoms belongs to…

The name belonged to you, didn’t it? Surely you didn’t not know?”

“T-that’s something I haven’t heard… Wait! Then why are you trying so hard to win? What do you gain from it?”

The person who set up the sparring between me and Bi Hwa was Uncle.

Was there something Uncle was hiding from me?

It turns out that whether I win or lose, the seventh disciple position goes to me… What does this mean…?

“It may not seem like much to you, but to me, it’s far more important than being the seventh disciple. At least for now.”

“W, what is it? What would make you even spend your life to obtain it?”

“Looks like you really didn’t know. Miss’s servant, Byul Rak, was agreed to become my subordinate if I win.”

“…”

“That’s right. You get the seventh disciple position, and I get the key to unravel this mysterious phenomenon. So it’s a win-win situation. Therefore, either declare your surrender quickly…”

“Uncle is… leaving?”

After all this time, just now when I can assist you properly.

Are you leaving like this?

Would you give someone like me the seventh disciple position?

“No, I won’t let you.”

“It seems this person was quite important to you too, Miss.”

“NOOOOOO!!!!!”

I can feel a hot energy surge from somewhere deeper than my dantian.

It’s not inner energy, but a purely primordial energy that resides even deeper.

As my eyelids that were drooping suddenly open wide and my blurred vision clears instantly.

The Primordial Energy, instead of inner energy, flows vigorously through the eight extraordinary meridians.

The explosive energy I felt from Bi Hwa earlier now starts to spread and claim my limbs.

“Absolutely, I can’t let this be taken…!”

“Every time you trained, I noticed you blushing, but I didn’t think your feelings were this serious. Did someone put a spell on you too, or do you have some mental disorder?”

Ten years.

More than half of my life has passed since I’ve waited ten years to finally meet this fated person.

Until I met him, I held him in reverence and respect.

But after meeting him in person and watching him gradually regain his original beauty as his gaunt appearance fades.

I realized I had unknowingly fallen in love.

Such a straightforward and admirable person that I would never regret loving.

Even more, he is so handsome that just looking at him brings joy.

How could I have only met such a man now?

And you ask me to let him go?

“…Now I understand what you said earlier.”

“My mind is a bit scattered, but what exactly did I say?”

“You mentioned, ‘What meaning is there in life without an older brother?'”

“…So? It seems my true feelings have been revealed. There’s still something left for that son of trash.”

“I feel the same. Life without Mister Byul Rak has no meaning.”

“That serious? Miss, you seem to be just as out of your mind as me?”

My forehead feels cold.

My limbs are hot.

My body is in perfect condition.

I feel like I can ignite a fire with a single kick and shake the heavens with a single slash of my sword right now.

“…”

“…”

Neither of us speaks anymore.

It’s strongly foreboding that we’ll soon have plenty of swords to speak for us.

Shashak-!

Shutshut-!

As Bi Hwa and I both dash towards each other simultaneously.

Gurrrl!! Wharrll-!

The Heavenly Thunder Qi, said to be passed down only to the direct lineage of the Namgung family, and the Ice Flame Qi, said to be passed down only to the direct lineage of the Taewon Jin clan, are unleashed from our swords as we clash.

*

Cha-chang!

“Kuh-aaak!”

“It’s an ambush! The Wangsap Faction’s attack!”

“Form the Mountain Guard Formation! They just have a large number, but they’re just an irregular army!”

So what is happening here?

The halls of the Mountain Guard Sect are burning, creating a smoky haze.

And among them, swordsmen equipped with weapons are taking each other’s lives, those from the Mountain Guard Sect and others wearing black martial uniforms.

It’s immediately apparent that this is a battlefield.

“Kill all the men and capture the women! If they resist too fiercely, just kill them! These are all martial arts cultivators, so do not let your guard down!”

The commanding call, imbued with the power of the invaders’ leader, rings out loud and clear.

‘Should I protect the Mountain Guard Sect?’

No.

‘Jin Gayoung hasn’t appeared yet.’

It has been two time periods since I entered without arms, and the sun is slowly setting, yet Jin Gayoung and Namgung So So have not come out yet.

If they’re both exhausted and unable to come out, that’s one thing, but that doesn’t seem to be the case as the faint sound of swords clashing can still be heard from within.

Jin Gayoung and Namgung So So both have incredible fighting spirits.

“Chief! There’s another survivor over there!”

“Is it a man?”

“It’s hard to tell due to the mask, but judging by the build, it seems to be a man!”

“Then kill him! Kill all the men!”

If I were to run away here, their blades might be directed towards Jin Gayoung, who is practicing inside.

…That cannot be allowed.

Chelkeok.

As I was about to grab any weapon nearby, the sound of a firmly locked iron door’s lock opening rang out.

Kooguung-.

At that moment, the heavy iron door creaked open, and a young girl emerged from inside, carrying a slightly taller woman on her back, staggering under her weight.

It was Jin Gayoung.

She looked like she had been through quite a fierce battle; her body was torn and slashed, covered in wounds oozing blood.

“Miss? What is the state you’re in…”

“…Hehe… Uncle… Uncle…”

Seeing that she was about to fall at any moment, I quickly supported her, and she managed a weak smile through her difficulties.

“Uncle… You mustn’t go anywhere…”

“Please take some rest first. You’ll feel better after a good nap.”

“I won because I won… Don’t go…”

“Understood, I won’t go anywhere. Rest now. I’m worried that your bones and muscles might be severely damaged.”

“I’ll… protect… my uncle…”

With that determined statement, Jin Gayoung lost consciousness and slipped into my arms.

As I gently sent some life force through my vital energy pathways to her and leaned her against the door alongside Namgung So So, the large man who had just reported about me earlier began shouting.

“Chief! There’s a woman too! She’s a beauty!”

“Beautiful? Bring her immediately! Absolutely do not harm her!”

Ssuuureung-.

In response to the man’s imminent approach, I picked up a broadsword from the nearby pile of corpses.

Though heavily damaged with a blunt edge and unbalanced weight—making it a poor-quality weapon—it was, in this moment, the best sword in the world as long as I wielded it.

“Hey, there’s a swordsman! Two more people, come help capture him!”

The one rushing towards me paused upon seeing the sword in my hand, and called out to his companions.

‘There’s only one thing to remember.’

As I fixed my eyes on them, I positioned myself like a gatekeeper in front of the already conspicuous door.

‘As inconspicuous as possible.’

Zzzap-zap!

The inner energy of thunder that I haven’t used in years enveloped my sword.

Savoring that exhilarating energy.

Kuung!

I planted my left foot like a post firmly into the ground in front of the door.

The iron floor caved in slightly.

This place, right here, is an absolute, inviolable sanctuary where no one shall trespass.

In the next moment.

Swishhh-.

The sensation of slicing through flesh and bone reached me through the tip of the sword, so familiar that it felt more natural than breathing now.

‘A feeling like returning to those days.’

The only difference now is that I have a young girl’s back to protect rather than the entire world.

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