Try Living Well Without Me

I traveled the land with my mother when I was young.

Or, can that even be called traveling?

I’m not sure.

Whenever we went to Hunan, we were chased by Shaolin, whenever we went to Anhui, we were chased by the Namgungs, and whenever we went to Sichuan, we were chased by the Tang family, so it might be more accurate to call it running away.

When I was little, I didn’t know why my mother and I had to keep running away.

I couldn’t understand why my mother had to keep running from the martial artists of the land every day.

I came to understand that on a cold winter day about eleven years ago.

I was nine years old at that time.

“Ryun.”

My mother and I were warming ourselves by a campfire in a cave when suddenly she called my name and got up.

“Why are you getting up, mom?”

Her deep pink hair fell down, and an inexplicable chill suddenly enveloped my whole body.

“Hong Ryun.”

“Mom…?”

“A visitor has come.”

“Mom… where are you going…?”

“…”

My mother was a martial artist.

A very famous martial artist.

She was known as Blood Sea Tyrant, and many martial artists lost their lives to her hands.

Because of that, she earned the formidable nickname of Martial Law.

“Mom… don’t go…”

“…Hong Ryun.”

“Don’t leave me behind… Don’t go…”

“Stay here. Don’t come out. As the mistress of this cave, I must greet the visitor.”

Martial artists are truly strange.

They talk with swords.

They interact with swords.

They even greet visitors with swords.

My mother was a martial artist.

“Oooh witch! Come out already!”

Uuung-!

The imposing roar of an outsider outside the cave echoed loudly inside.

Piiii-.

A strange ringing in my ears pierced through, making my ears feel hot.

I covered my ears with both hands.

“…with a child present, these visitors today are truly rude.”

My mother placed her hand on my forehead.

A warm current enveloped my whole body, and the cold and the ringing disappeared like melting snow.

Still, the shouting from outside kept growing louder.

“Blood Sea Tyrant! We know you’re here! Don’t hide and come out! In winter, the fire catches better, you know!”

“Those who wander around looking for someone to kill and have spent their lives slaughtering countless martial heroes are here today to kill you!”

“Come out quickly! We’ll fulfill your lifelong wish!”

Their shouts filled me with fear like never before.

I used to not feel afraid when someone visited, because there was no one who could shout louder or stronger than my mother.

But these shouts today were clearly different from the ones before.

So, I tightly grabbed onto her.

Begging her with all my might not to go, not to leave me behind.

“Ryun, let go of my hand.”

“Mom… can’t you not go…?”

“You’ve heard me. I must go.”

“No… I don’t want you to go! I won’t let go!”

I roughly clutched onto the hem of her dress.

The large hand that gently covered mine before then gently pulled me away and pushed me back.

When I fell helplessly, my mother left the cave and walked out into the snow.

“Remember this well, you must stay here quietly, no matter what happens. And make no sound. This is my final request.”

“Huh… I don’t want you to go… don’t go…!”

“If I sever my karma rather than my virtues, they won’t cling to you, Ryun.”

“Huh… but I still don’t want us to part…! If you go now… you won’t come back, right…!”

“Blame me. All this is my fault, my karma.”

“Hwaaa… don’t gooo!”

“Absolutely, do not come out. This is my last request.”

“Huh… will you come back again…?”

“…then I will.”

My mother said that, then walked out of the cave and into the snowfall.

I collapsed there and cried uncontrollably.

Not long after, the cave began to shake from the sound of explosions.

Kwaaaang! Kwurrrr! Kwkwkwkwkw!!!

The explosions continued for quite a while, and by the time my tear ducts had dried up, the explosions had stopped.

“Mom?”

I thought it was over.

Like always, I thought mom had just defeated all the challengers.

So without a second thought, I ran barefoot on the cold stone floor.

“…Mom?”

Then what met me was… a horrifying scene.

“Master! Master! Please open your eyes!”

“Damn it, what level of martial arts could that crazy witch ever have reached…!”

“Heavenly Lord, why would the heavens bestow such martial arts upon a rogue like her?”

“Indeed a terrible bloodbath would have occurred here without the presence of Divine Sword.”

The surroundings were utterly devastated.

Broken trees and shattered rocks, snow patches that had melted and were now being covered again by new snowfall, and… numerous pools of blood scattered everywhere.

And everywhere around, many martial artists with swords and sabers strapped to their waists.

Here and there, scattered parts of human hands and feet.

But I couldn’t focus on anything else.

My mother in the center of the gruesome sight.

Strangely, something made of iron was piercing through her chest.

“Mom? What… are you doing?”

My mother was kneeling, pierced by a sword, and her head was deeply bowed.

Her face no longer held any signs of life, but her eyes were wide open, proving the fierce life she once led.

My mouth was desperately yelling out my mother’s name.

“Mom! Mom!”

Unconsciously, I ran towards her.

The warmth of the cave was long gone; the freezing snow was seeping between my toes, but I paid it no mind.

In fact, I didn’t even have time to care.

“….! A, a child…!”

“The Blood Sea Tyrant had an offspring?”

“Heavenly Lord…”

My mother’s attention suddenly shifted to me.

But I only ran towards her.

When I reached my mother, the cold chill of death emanating from her body spread to wherever we touched.

My mother had perished like that.

Naturally, my gaze shifted to the owner of the sword that still pierced her.

To my mother’s killer, my sworn enemy.

“Sword Saint! Step down! The situation might be dangerous with a child not reported in the intelligence!”

“…”

He was a man.

A man with eerie pale eyes, with an expression so blank it made one’s skin crawl.

“…hehe.”

All the feelings of resentment and sorrow I had just felt had disappeared.

What dominated my mind now was the fear of the man before me.

I’m afraid, I want to run.

The image of my mother’s murderer? In the presence of such overwhelming fear, it didn’t even cross my mind.

“Aaaah…!”

I let go of my mother.

Though I was reluctant, there was nothing I could do.

Right now, escaping from the man in front of me was the top priority.

Tatatata!

I ran as fast as I could across the icy ground.

Just to get away from the fear.

Just to escape from the inescapable terror in my young heart.

But I didn’t get far.

Kak!

“Hiiik!”

“O mighty daughter of the Blood Sea Tyrant, where do you think you’re going?”

Martial artists blocked my path.

Their eyes were filled with a strong murderous intent.

Though they weren’t as terrifying as the man behind me, in some ways, they felt even more fearsome.

Martial artists gradually began to encircle me.

“With pink hair… is she the witch’s daughter?”

“Hiiik… Pl, please let me live…”

“Answer! Are you the blood daughter of that wicked witch?”

The martial artists approached me with overwhelming pressure.

In my attempt to back away, I felt something behind me.

It was the man with pale eyes.

“The one who killed my master.”

“I’m somewhat relieved that I couldn’t personally cut down the Blood Sea Tyrant, but this might help ease the spirit of my younger sister.”

“The Blood Sea Tyrant stole my elder brother from me, so I will steal her daughter.”

Martial artists advanced, armed, narrowing the distance step by step.

I wanted to escape, but I couldn’t with the man behind me.

Even if I managed to escape him, I’d be caught by the encirclement that lay ahead.

“Please… spare my life!”

In the end, all I could do was beg.

Begging for mercy from the people who had taken my mother’s life.

“I’ll do anything…! Please, don’t kill me…! It’s not… hard, right…!”

“…”

Their determined expressions faltered for a moment in response to my earnest plea.

“Sorry.”

“Blame your mother.”

“Here, how can I face my younger sister if I let you live?”

After wavering briefly, they again moved closer with their menacing weapons.

The distance between us had diminished to just a few steps.

Accepting what I didn’t want to—death—I tightly closed my eyes.

Until something touched the top of my head.

A blue-eyed man stepped forward and gently blocked them for me.

“This child is innocent.”

His large hand appeared, stained with my mother’s blood.

“The Blood Sea Tyrant is dead, and the blood feud ends here.”

“…”

“To those who know, why do you seek to spill new blood? Especially innocent blood.”

The man’s voice was cold.

But even in my youth, the meaning was clear.

This man intended to save me.

“That child presents a future menace. How can we let the menace live?”

“It’s not just personal vengeance. How can we guarantee this child of the Blood Sea Tyrant won’t become a tyrant herself?”

“Clearly, she’s destined to bring about a storm of bloodshed. Why do you protect her, Divine Sword?”

These martial artists didn’t seem willing to back down.

The man pulled me behind him.

“In the name of Namgung Cheolbin, I humbly request.”

His back was broad.

Broad enough to temporarily shield me from the terrifying martial artists.

“Impossible. The lineage of an evil mage must be erased.”

“Though Divine Sword has done the most in catching the Blood Sea Tyrant, there are limits to what even the rising hero can achieve. We cannot yield.”

“This is for justice. No one knows what sort of bloodshed that girl might bring in the future.”

Despite their refusal, the blue-eyed man stood firm to protect me.

“It’s merely speculation.”

“Divine Sword, never thought you were so soft-hearted.”

“I am upholding righteousness. Is it the way of the righteous martial world to kill a child without sin?”

“…”

“Place your hand on your heart and ask yourselves again. Is the reason you want to kill this girl solely to sever the lineage of the Blood Sea Tyrant? Or is it to vent your uncontrollable ire towards her?”

“Divine Sword…! Your words are too harsh…”

“Think again about why I am harsh.”

I understood the martial artists’ hearts.

No matter how much one cultivates the Way and refines one’s spirit, there are times when anger cannot be contained.

When something as precious as blood relative is killed by an enemy, seeing that enemy’s offspring right in front of you…

Of course, they want to kill me.

Even if they know that I haven’t committed any wrongs and have caused them no harm, they still would.

“Divine Sword, that won’t work.”

“Do you think you can stand alone against the dozens of heroes here? Even the rising star of the martial world has his limits.”

“Divine Sword, this is nothing but ‘righteous vengeance’.”

The murderous intent from those who were blinded by vengeance began to extend towards the man who protected me.

Though the blue-eyed man doesn’t seem weak, he can’t possibly fight off so many.

‘I don’t want this kind man to die because of me, not after my mom…’

“A, uncle…”

Tentatively tugging at his clothes, I looked up at him.

“Just do as they say…”

The difficult decision and the words I spoke, though hard for a young child, came out with resolve.

“I’m going to die here anyway…”

Though what I said was like cutting my own lifeline, his answer was a refusal.

“If I abandon you here, where in the world will the righteousness of the martial world be found?”

What a splendid statement, one I never thought I’d hear from my mother’s world of the forbidden path.

And a corresponding… action.

Tul-tul-tul.

With the ominous momentum of their approach, the man sank to his knees before the crowd.

The words that emerged from his lips next arrested everyone in place.

“Heroes of the martial world.”

For some reason, at that moment, I felt as if the back of the kneeling man was the broadest thing in the world,

Perhaps it was the powerful resonance of his voice, imbued with a deep internal energy.

“Appeal I make to your courage and righteous path.”

Somehow, his bowed back seemed even broader.

“Please, spare this innocent, pitiful child.”

“…”

The howling snowstorm continued, but during this brief pause, snow began accumulating on his bowed head and body, making him look even more steadfast.

“Hu… Divine Lord of the Original Heaven…”

After that speech from the man, no one among the martial artists made any further moves to harm me.

They were not persuaded, not converted.

Only made conscious of their guilt, because they knew the father of this blue-eyed man, Divine Sword Namgung Cheolbin, had been a victim of the Blood Sea Tyrant, my mother.

It was too difficult on their conscience to argue against sparing me under the name of justice when it was Namgung Cheolbin who was defending the daughter of his father’s murderer.

The martial artists dispersed, each looking somewhat embarrassed.

Though Namgung Cheolbin was the one who killed my mother, I wanted to thank him for saving my life. But he left after leaving me with a martial arts manual.

It was no bigger than the palm of a hand, its contents scribbled casually with no name attached, but to me, it became a treasure I honed diligently.

Three years ago, by defeating the Pavilion Master of the Execution Pavilion, I earned the moniker ‘Executioner’.

*

Lost in reminiscence of her childhood, Hong Ryun entered the room to check the condition of So So Namgung, left lying on the bed.

There lay a woman with brown hair and green eyes, blinking innocently at her.

Her blue eyes were uncannily similar to those of a certain man from her past.

“You’re awake! My dear sister-in-law!”

“…What?”

Taken aback by the unexpected term, Namgung So So widened her eyes.

“Hehe, why are you staring at me like that? Are you hungry? The life energy I replenished for you should have helped?”

Hong Ryun smirked as she gestured toward Namgung So So’s abdomen.

Still trying to comprehend the situation, Namgung So So followed her finger to her own dantian and gasped.

“What… What is this! Why is there life energy…!”

The depleted innate energy cannot be restored.

That’s an unchanging truth throughout history, without exception.

Her own dried-up innate energy was indeed that way…

However, in place of that innate energy, there was an odd energy settled in.

An energy far more powerful and vigorous than what should have been there.

“What do you think? Feeling the life energy I’ve given you?”

“U-Uhm, excuse me… who exactly are you..? No, no! Before that, what do you mean by ‘sister-in-law’? There’s no way our eldest brother has a lover…”

“WHAT? How dare you compare me to that piglet! If I were to take even a bit of energy from you, would you come to your senses?”

“A, I’m sorry… but may I ask how exactly you’re related to our eldest brother…?”

Namgung So So’s question, filled with suspicion, prompted Hong Ryun to answer with a mischievous smirk.

“Hehe, does this ‘sister-in-law’ of mine have any reason to reveal such information?”

“…”

A sudden hypothesis that struck her, making the back of Namgung So So’s neck tingle.

“O-O-Why does everyone keep swooping on our brother like this…!”

Eventually, she fainted again after clutching her forehead right after waking up.

“Tsk tsk, such a cute one.”

Covering the bandage-covered body of Namgung So So with the kicked-off blanket, Hong Ryun gazed at the crescent moon floating brightly outside the window.

A moon that somewhat resembled the nostalgic aura of Namgung Cheolbin.

‘My lord, I shall come soon?’

Smiling wryly at the crescent moon, it was a different kind of smile, one transformed through various trials over the past eleven years.

‘Thank you, my dear calamity who saved my life.’

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