MTL NOVEL Chapter 6
Hanging Mountain Sword Sect.
“Fourth Sister, are you still training?”
“Take it easy. Lately, Fourth Sister seems to be overdoing it.”
The sound of a sword swing rang out in the early morning from the woman with her brown hair tightly tied up.
With sharply defined jawline, piercing eyes, and an angular swordplay style, she exuded a rather sharp presence.
Nonetheless, her striking beauty and the distinctive clear eyes of the Namgung family mesmerized many men, so her surroundings were never lacking in male sect disciples from the Hanging Mountain Sword Sect.
However, the woman paid no attention to anyone.
“Looking closely, Fourth Sister seems to be consumed by some sort of resentment. Is there something troubling you?”
“…Can’t you just leave me alone?”
Finally speaking for the first time today, the woman’s first words were filled with negative emotions.
“Fourth Sister So So, aren’t you too full of anger? Even though I understand about your older brother, what will you do if you get broken yourself? You need to control your anger.”
“Just…please leave me alone. Why can’t you just leave me be?”
“…Alright, compose yourself and continue training.”
The man who had been pestering Lady Bi Hwa Namgung So So finally turned away, muttering to himself as he walked off.
“Her defenses are ridiculously high. That’s why, despite that face and figure, she doesn’t have a man, tsk tsk. Her brother was the one sleeping around with every woman in sight, so why are they complete opposites?”
Upon hearing that, Namgung So So stopped her sword training and bowed her head deeply.
The sorrowful emotions welling up inside her began to overwhelm her once again.
Her older brother, Namgung Cheolbin.
One of the Five Great Experts under Heaven, and undisputedly the leading figure of the Central Plains martial world.
The peerless hero who, after seven days and nights of combat, subdued the number one martial artist under heaven known as the Blood Demon, and with just a few words made the Bright Light Holy Sect and the Celestial Demon from Tian Shan retreat.
The Sword Sage Namgung Cheolbin, whose legend might never be matched in thousands of years of martial history…
…had fallen.
“Was it really wise for them to expel that man? Perhaps it was for the best.”
He became a disgrace to the family, and an evildoer under heaven.
The thought of once having harbored forbidden love for him filled her with self-loathing.
Because she had loved him deeply, loving him to madness, she couldn’t bear to see him meet other women and have a child with them, so she abandoned the secret martial techniques of the Namgung family and joined the Hanging Mountain Sword Sect.
He had thoroughly betrayed and trampled on her love.
Eliminating the Sword Sage Namgung Cheolbin was, to her, like…
If only he would marry and live happily, having children.
To live up to the value of her first love, as she had sacrificed.
“Bad person…”
Her sword, which had paused for a moment, began cutting through the air again.
The familiar techniques of the Namgung family’s Chang Gong Wu Ai Swordplay had been completely replaced by the Hanging Mountain Sword Sect’s Fuk Ryong Sword Techniques, swirling through the training ground.
The beautiful sight of her sword and movements captivated all those who had come early for training, leaving them mesmerized.
Uuuuuuung!
Thinking that Namgung Cheolbin was in the air before her, her sword began to emit sword qi.
The completely bloomed Hanging Mountain Sword Technique: Fuk Ryong Sword.
‘Damn you! Terrible guy! Naughty person!’
Kwaang! Kwaang! Shaaa!
‘Why are you so handsome! Why are you so good-looking! Why were you so kind! Why did you enchant me!’
Chaaaaa! Kwaeng! Kwaang!
‘Why did you change!? Why did you fall into corruption…! Is it really because you’ve consorted with martial artists all your life…!’
Though she hated him to the point of wanting to kill him when she heard about his misdeeds, it was difficult to hate him completely without regret, given all that she had received from him.
In particular, the memory of him standing alone against the monstrous tide at Bing Chyun Valley during their trip to North Sea Ice Palace still occasionally appears in her dreams.
“Bad guyaaaaaa!”
With an emotion-filled shout, Namgung So So swung her sword with all her might.
The powerful sword wind, containing dense sword qi, split the wooden practice dummies on the training ground in half.
“Damn…worthless guy…”
Today, for the seven hundred and eighty-third time, she cut down a wooden dummy shaped like Namgung Cheolbin.
“Haaack, haaaaa…”
Breathing heavily after finishing her training, the woman noticed her older sect brother hurrying back toward her, apparently with something to tell not just her, but all the men who had been watching her as well.
“A visitor has arrived! From the Taewon Jin Clan!”
“What!?”
“Jin Gayoung herself has come! She says she’ll stay for a few days before leaving. Everyone, be on your best behavior!”
“Taewon Jin Clan…?”
Namgung So So gasped, her mouth agape.
The Taewon Jin Clan, which had been declining due to corruption by former patriarchs and elders, has recently experienced a meteoric rise under its eighteen-year-old grande dame.
Currently vying with the Hanging Mountain Sword Sect for dominance in Shanxi Province, the upcoming Taewon Jin Clan’s representative, Jin Gayoung, is particularly focused on entering the ranks of the Seven Flowers. Given her proximity as a current Seven Flower, Namgung So So has no choice but to pay attention.
And…
“Isn’t she called the Next Supreme Beauty?”
Though it wasn’t something Namgung So So particularly cared about, hearing she had come made her think.
“Let’s go see! I have to see what this Sword Flower looks like!”
As the Hanging Mountain Sword Sect disciples rushed out, Namgung So So hastily followed without even changing out of her training clothes.
Though it wasn’t her nature to react strongly to visitors, for some reason it felt necessary.
Thump thump…
Her heart raced strangely.
Almost like a young girl’s.
Namgung So So attributed it to meeting the Sword Flower.
After running and running to arrive at the main gate of the Hanging Mountain Sword Sect, she saw a carriage passing through the gate, surrounded by about twenty armed guards.
When the carriage finally stopped inside the sect grounds and the door creaked open…
Namgung So So momentarily forgot how to breathe.
Thud.
Her heart dropped.
As if struck by lightning in her mind.
A man stepped down from the carriage.
Tall stature with flowing robes, wearing a black hood, and a white mask covering his face.
She’d never seen such attire or that mask.
Naturally she wouldn’t recognize it, coming from the Taewon Jin Clan carriage.
But why…
“Why, why is this…?”
Her face began burning uncontrollably.
Her heart was pounding much more strongly than before.
Though she’d never seen this person before.
Without even seeing his face, all she’d seen was his physique mostly covered by clothes.
“Uh, ughhh…”
Her eyes watered and her breathing quickened.
She felt dizzy and her vision spun.
A familiar scent came from his personal aroma.
It was unclear exactly what, but a deeply familiar and nostalgic fragrance.
“What…what is this? Why am I like this…?”
The man, now fully descended from the carriage, reached his hand inside.
An elegant woman with black hair and golden eyes descended gracefully, holding onto that hand.
Her wavy hair swayed gently in the wind.
Her perfectly chiseled jawline, petite nose resembling a squirrel’s, and large eyes emitting deep golden light created a breathtaking harmony.
Undoubtedly, this was the most beautiful face Namgung So So had ever seen.
Her reputation as the next Supreme Beauty of the Central Plains was entirely justified.
Yet strangely…
Here was the potentially formidable rival in front of her.
Here stood the martial world’s top beauty, embodying the elegance of celestial maidens.
For some reason, Namgung So So kept looking at the man standing beside her, supporting the Sword Flower.
She couldn’t help but stare at how he courteously assisted the Sword Flower, even helping her put on her shoes.
“Miss Jin! Welcome!”
The Hanging Mountain Sect Leader stepped forward first to greet the Taewon Jin Clan party.
With a slight bow, Jin Gayoung responded.
“To Master Fuk Ryong of Hanging Mountain Sect, the Taewon Jin Clan’s Junior Miss Jin pays her respects.”
Though just one line, her clear and delicate voice pierced the ears of the Hanging Mountain Sect disciples like morning dew falling.
While all the other Hanging Mountain Sect disciples, except Namgung So So, wriggled about unable to contain their joy at seeing their ideal partner, the Sect Leader smiled warmly and received them.
“Ho ho, don’t be so formal. I’m just an old man.”
At the same time, he sent a secret transmission to Namgung So So.
– Pay close attention and observe carefully. I imagine Miss Jin has come here for a sparring match with you, So So. Don’t be distracted by anyone else.
At those words, Namgung So So snapped back to her senses and tried to focus on Jin Gayoung.
Still, she couldn’t stop her gaze from being drawn to the masked man beside her.
After the arrival of the Taewon Jin Clan party at the Hanging Mountain Sword Sect, grand banquets continued one after another.
For being the encounter of the old strongest from Shanxi Province and the rising strongest, the Hanging Mountain Sect Leader naturally wanted to flaunt their wealth.
He intended to deflate the guest’s spirit before they could reveal the true purpose of their visit.
“Come! Everyone, let’s have another drink!”
Repeatedly filling cups to the brim and drinking.
In the process, the person who should have maintained the clearest mind, the Hanging Mountain Sect Leader, ended up being the first to become intoxicated.
“To your health!”
“To your health-!!”
Of course, regardless of the underlying intentions, no one scolded what was essentially a banquet.
In that atmosphere, Namgung So So was quietly sipping away without saying a word.
Clearly these were exquisite feasts, with every dish rich and delicious.
Yet food wouldn’t go down her throat.
Uncomfortable.
What was it about that man?
Was he just some bodyguard for Sword Flower, standing there like a stone statue?
Was that why food was getting stuck in her throat?
“Choke! Hack! Cough!”
Suddenly feeling something stuck, she started coughing violently, and some thick substance came out.
Turns out there really was phlegm.
Phlegm attacking her despite her martial arts mastery to the point where minor illnesses couldn’t affect her?
“Fourth Sister, are you alright?”
“Here, have some water. You look unwell.”
“No need… cough…”
Though completely covered by a mask and hood, making it impossible to see his face…
Standing in the same space as him was enough to make her body shiver uncontrollably.
Looking around at others, it seemed she was the only one trembling.
Was he sending her some无形 pressure through his martial arts mastery?
Yet she couldn’t sense any martial energy from him.
And this pressure wasn’t from internal energy – it wasn’t that kind of martial power.
‘Why am I like this…’
Is it from overworking during training?
That could be it, considering how excessively she’d been training lately.
Or could it be from the news that her brother was finally expelled, unsettling her mind?
“Haa…my face is burning.”
Unexplainable emotions kept surging up from deep within.
Overly sensitive.
If touched, she might explode with crude curses.
“Urgh…”
If she stayed here much longer, she’d probably end up throwing up embarrassingly.
When she tried to stumble away, gripping her sleeve to stop her was the sect leader sitting beside her.
He hadn’t actually been drunk at all.
He’d only pretended to be intoxicated to lure his visitors into complacency.
– You there, wait a moment. I have something important to say. Just when the atmosphere is right.
“Ugh…”
With sweat dripping profusely, she obediently sat back down.
Then, as if waiting for this moment, the sect leader stood up holding his cup.
“The banquet atmosphere seems ripe. I, the sect leader, have a question for the Taewon Jin Clan.”
Jin Gayoung replied with deliberately slurred speech.
“What is it? Go ahead and say it…”
“Why have you truly come to the Hanging Mountain Sword Sect?”
“True… purpose?”
“Not recalling, I’ll take a guess.”
Initially ignoring Jin Gayoung’s words completely, the sect leader cut her off and continued speaking directly.
“From my perspective… your true purpose for coming here is this.”
“Which is?”
“For a duel between our beloved So So and Lady Sword Flower, am I right?”
Proudly delivering what he believed was the perfect probing question.
Generally, such direct questioning would be considered impolite, but the sect leader used the drinking session to create justification for asking.
If challenged, he could simply claim it was an accidental slip of the tongue while drunk.
“Could it be to win the Seven Flowers title through victory here?”
He had what seemed like a decent strategy, but Jin Gayoung surpassed him in tactical depth, having single-handedly revived a failing clan.
With absolutely no change in expression, she replied as if half-asleep.
“Nah…”
“Excuse me?”
“I have no desire to fight Lady Bi Hwa. Nor do I covet a place among the Seven Flowers.”
“Cough cough… A-a, is that so? This old man apologizes…”
Caught off guard by this unexpected move, the sect leader could only cough awkwardly.
Smiling bitterly at the sight of the sect leader being defeated, Jin Gayoung chuckled to herself.
Still internally.
The cool night air brushed against her cheeks.
She felt completely refreshed in both body and mind.
It used to be so stifling with some heavy burden in her heart, but just having this person beside her made her so cheerful.
Seemed like Lady Jin Gayoung had some mysterious quality.
“What are you thinking about, Uncle?”
“Nothing.”
“C’mon, don’t be like that. Tell me. Are you upset about not eating anything at the banquet earlier?”
“No, that’s not it.”
“Are you sure? I brought this just in case you were hungry.”
Jin Gayoung brought out a chicken drumstick wrapped in paper from her bosom.
Its enticingly sauced appearance made the night air seem sweet and savory when it appeared.
“Thank you.”
Taking the chicken drumstick, he started tearing into it bite by bite.
Since it was just the two of them here, he removed his mask without hesitating.
Looking at him silently, Jin Gayoung.
Sniffle.
For a brief moment, he thought he saw sadness in her eyes.
“Why so down? Is something troubling you?”
“No…just feeling depressed.”
Before he knew it, she buried her head in his chest and started tearfully crying.
Though unexpected, he didn’t panic and gently stroked the back of her neck.
“There is someone I truly admire… someone I want to protect, to dedicate my entire life to…”
“Feeling admiration and love is a good thing.”
“So I worked hard… sleeping only one watch each day while training… I thought I had become stronger…”
“Young Mistress is already quite formidable. Especially considering you’re only eighteen.”
“No, this isn’t enough. At the very least, I need to become one of the Seven Flowers. Only then can I avoid burdening that person… I saw Lady Bi Hwa at the banquet earlier…”
Hearing Namgung So So’s title made his ears twitch slightly.
Come to think of it, she had been one of the Seven Flowers.
His chest felt inexplicably moist again, realizing Miss Jin Gayoung was more prone to tears than he thought.
She always appeared so mature on the outside that he hadn’t realized.
“Actually, the sect leader was right earlier… I did come here to challenge for a duel. For the Seven Flowers title… I thought I might be able to achieve it at this level…”
“Young Mistress is certainly capable. Probably wouldn’t lose to any of the other Seven Flowers.”
“Hmm, still… the overwhelming energy I sensed from Lady Bi Hwa earlier was terrifying. To be honest… I felt like hitting a wall. The path ahead is long, yet I need to assist that person soon. Feeling afraid of even the Seven Flowers, I hate how pitiful I am…”
With those words, Jin Gayoung began sobbing even harder.
Was she fragile?
No, objectively speaking, certainly not.
She simply had excessive ambition.
For evidence, Namgong So So had not even reached the peak expert level when she was Jin Gayoung’s age.
“Would you like to become one of the Seven Flowers?”
“Yes… sniff… I want to assist that person as soon as possible. I don’t want to make that person work so hard anymore. I want to take on all of that person’s burdens myself.”
“Would you like my assistance then?”
“…”
“Did you hear me? I, humble servant, will help Young Mistress achieve victory over Lady Bi Hwa if you so desire.”
I’ve always felt apologetic toward Namgong So So.
If I ever get the chance, I’d like to treat her well.
However, my current sovereign is Jin Gayoung.
If I help Jin Gayoung, Namgong So So will lose her title as one of the Seven Flowers.
Losing one’s reputation as a martial artist would be quite damaging unless she regains the title from another of the Seven Flowers.
“Would you really…?”
Still, what’s the point of that?
To move on from Namgong Cheolbin and live anew as Byul Rak…
I have to decisively cut ties with the past and renew myself.
Living anew is never an easy thing.
“Wouldn’t it be too much trouble for you…?”
Most importantly…
“I don’t want to burden you with extra work, Uncle…”
She’s the only one who truly cares for me.
Though it’s not Namgong Cheolbin but Byul Rak, regardless of semantics, Jin Gayoung is the sole person who treats me kindly.
“For your happiness is my happiness.”
The first person in a very long time to make me feel human warmth.
The one who planted a new sprout in me, parched and withered, and provided water and sunlight.
For her sake, I would gladly dedicate myself to anything.