Chapter 226
The sparring match between Namgung Dowi and Namgung Jong was quite a meaningful experience.
After reaching the Flowering Stage, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say I had been completely reborn—many things had changed drastically from before.
First, the body. Thanks to the complete transformation, my physical form was robust even without deliberately drawing on internal energy, and the sense of unity with the sword remained active even in ordinary times.
Next, the internal energy. The chronic problems I had, like narrow meridians and turbid qi, had all been resolved.
The forcibly expanded meridians from falling into qi deviation had now completely become mine, and beyond just the murderous aura of the Raging Wave Death-Stealing Art, willpower itself had infused into it, freeing me completely from issues of internal energy purity.
And finally, the ability to consciously wield willpower.
This, in truth, is the biggest change. Willpower is intent and thought—in other words, it’s the heart.
Just as one gains qi sensitivity when awakening to internal energy, awakening to willpower gave rise to a kind of insight, enabling me to perceive where the opponent's intent is directed.
Before, I predicted an opponent's movements through breathing, gaze, and muscle twitches—but now, their intent could be felt directly.
Both Seorin and Tang Jincheon had, at times, seemed as though they could see right through someone—and it must be due to this kind of sense. Of course, since it's such an unfamiliar sense, I can’t claim to fully control it just yet...
But I’ve become capable of using it to a certain degree.
Now that I’m accustomed to strong qi, my next goal was to master this new perception.
Unlike Seorin, who mainly uses kicks and strikes, or Azure Cold Serpent, who isn’t even human, Namgung Dowi, being a swordsman like me, offered many points of reference during our duel.
So, though it was a bit slow, we’d been steadily making our way to Zhejiang Province for about five days.
Just as I was waking up and heading outside the room one morning as usual—when I opened the door, familiar white hair swayed at chest height.
“Today, you shall spar with This One!”
“I refuse.”
Thud.
It didn’t take long for Seorin to collapse in shock. Anyone seeing this might think I’d betrayed her.
Seorin hugged her knees with the most miserable expression, sitting there in the corridor where the guest rooms clustered together. The fact that I saw her the moment I opened the door obviously meant she’d been sitting right outside.
I had woken up early to stretch lightly before breakfast, but there was no guarantee that other party members or guests wouldn’t walk out.
Not wanting anyone to see, I quickly picked her up and tossed her onto my bed, then closed the door.
Lately, Seorin’s reputation had been getting a bit strange—it felt like I ought to help manage it myself.
Letting out a silent sigh of relief, I asked Seorin,
“Haa... What is it all of a sudden, Senior Seorin?”
“There is nothing in particular.”
“No, who suddenly sits down like that for no reason?”
“The fact that there is nothing... is precisely the problem...!”
“???”
I couldn’t make any sense of what she was saying and just stared at her silently—until Seorin suddenly started slapping the bed furiously with her little palms.
Pang, pang!
“Haven’t you been cold to This One lately?!”
“Hmm. If your hands and feet are cold, would you like me to put a brazier in your room, Senior Seorin?”
“You know full well that’s not what I mean!”
“I don’t even know why Senior Seorin came to my room in the first place…”
I could understand why Tang Sowol and Seol Lihyang gathered in my room—it had started being treated like a common area at some point.
But that didn’t mean we slept in the same room. As night deepened, we each returned to our rooms and regrouped after breakfast. That was the unspoken rule.
As I shook my head, Seorin suddenly lay flat with a frustrated expression and flailed her limbs.
Like a tantrum from a drawing. Then—
“Haven’t our sparring sessions been getting fewer lately?! Though you may now be on the same level, I thought I was playing the role of something like a teacher... I didn’t think I’d be thrown away like old shoes the moment that Namgung guy showed up!”
“...?”
“Today you shall spar with This One! I don’t mean you shouldn’t spar with Namgung or whoever! I’m saying This One comes first!”
It was an absurd, tantrum-like excuse, as if taken from a sketchbook.
I was momentarily speechless, but had to sit upright at her next words.
“This One shall personally teach you the swordsmanship of the Seo Mun Clan. So...!”
“Are you serious?”
“Ah.”
Did she blurt that out unintentionally in a fit of emotion? Seorin quickly covered her mouth.
But it was too late. I quickly sat beside her on the bed.
I gently pressed down on the back of her hand that was covering her mouth, keeping it from rising again, and spoke.
The distance had naturally closed, but that wasn’t the important part now.
“If I spar with you, will you truly teach me the sword of the Seo Mun Clan?”
“Mmmpf! Mmphmpf!”
“Don’t worry. I won’t leak it—I’ll keep it to myself.”
“Mmpf... mmmphmp.”
“I’m already looking forward to it. You know, I’ve never properly learned any advanced martial arts on my path to reaching this stage.”
Even Namgung Dowi, who is generous with swordsmanship, never directly taught me techniques—he merely turned a blind eye when I copied by observation.
Tang Jincheon would gladly open his family library and let me learn advanced techniques, but the Tang Clan lacks distinguished swordsmanship.
“Of course, that doesn’t mean I’m going to abandon the martial arts I’ve learned until now.”
“Mm, mmph.”
Seorin nodded with her mouth still covered.
Since it’s advanced martial arts, the Seo Mun Clan’s sword techniques must be excellent. Still, the sword that suits me best is ultimately the one I’ve developed on my own.
It has no named forms, and relies entirely on my skill and insight.
That’s why it could be called a sword forged from my life.
No matter how exceptional the Seo Mun Clan’s sword may be, I’m not about to turn my back on the path I’ve walked just to chase some incomprehensible truth.
I’ve come too far for that.
Still, the sword techniques of the Seo Mun Clan would be a great guide—especially helpful with the finishing move I’ve been contemplating recently.
I slowly lifted my hand from the back of Seorin’s hand. Only then did she cautiously lower the arm covering her mouth, sneaking glances at me.
She let out a deep sigh. The distance was close enough that her breath tickled my face.
“Ehuu. You already know. Originally, I planned to pass down this martial art to the successor of the Seo Mun Clan when I rebuild it.”
“Yes. You said that someday you’d pass it on to your clan’s heir.”
“That’s right. But there’s a problem. Even though I’m still searching, I’ve yet to find a single surviving branch member of the Seo Mun Clan. And you’ve adamantly refused to become my adopted son... so perhaps this isn’t such a bad alternative.”
“You still haven’t found any?”
“Whether they truly don’t exist, or whether they simply can’t bring themselves to entrust everything built over decades to This One alone... I don’t know. But at least after I revealed myself in the Murim world, the only people who contacted me were scammers.”
Come to think of it, it had been the same before regression. Though she had been the Ironblood Hall Master of the Black Lotus Sect rather than a guest of the Tang Clan, Seorin had made herself known.
Yet no one came to her. In the end, Ironblood Hall had only me, Seol Lihyang, and a few rootless martial artists.
This time, being officially affiliated with the orthodox factions like the former Seo Mun Clan had been, there was hope—but in the end, nothing changed.
Seorin’s earnest wish was to reclaim a simple, human life—something she had to give up in her vengeance.
But the family most people have no longer existed for her.
With a bitter smile, Seorin continued,
“It can’t be helped. Still, I can’t let the Seo Mun Clan’s martial arts vanish like this. If someone must inherit it, I believe it should be you.”
“Senior Seorin.”
After a brief pause, I spoke cautiously.
“Please don’t misunderstand what I’m about to say.”
“Hmm? What are you about to say?”
“Well... why don’t you just find a good man, marry, and have a child?”
Just moments ago, Seorin had seemed a bit deflated but still lively—but now the light vanished from her eyes.
Seorin stared at me with a strangely cold gaze—not something she should have, not having trained in yin techniques like Seol Lihyang.
But I had to finish what I started. Our relationship might have changed a lot compared to before regression, but I still wanted what was best for Seorin.
“If you’re worried that you might be too old to have children, you could ask Tang Sowol to get medicine from the Tang Clan’s medical division and—”
“Eiit!”
Without warning, she raised her leg high and stomped down at my temple.
To perform such a kick while lying down...?
Surprised yet calm, I turned my head and deflected it. I caught the blow on my shoulder—it didn’t hurt much, as it wasn’t imbued with internal energy.
“What are you doing all of a sudden?”
“That’s what This One should be asking! What nonsense are you suddenly spouting?! This One... This One...!”
She stammered mid-sentence like something was caught in her throat, then suddenly shouted with her eyes shut tight.
“This One... is still capable of childbearing!”
...Huh? Is that even possible? Senior Seorin’s age should be—
Huuup?!
She clamped my mouth shut and flipped me over.
The distance was so close it was more suitable for hand-to-hand combat than swordplay.
Even though I was a martial artist at the Flowering Stage, I couldn’t react properly—every unconscious effort I made was deftly nullified by her movements.
Now it was the opposite of before—me lying flat on the bed, and Seorin on top of me.
Her face blushed red, Seorin leaned close and whispered, still keeping my mouth shut.
“Th-This One has begun menstruating again since regaining this body.”
So that’s it.
Rejuvenation doesn’t just make you look young—it affects your body fundamentally.
No wonder Flowering Stage martial artists sometimes regain their inner child.
As I nodded internally, Seorin continued in a serious tone—though with her ears red, she didn’t look very solemn.
“So there’s no need to worry about This One in that regard. In fact, this is the youngest and healthiest body This One has ever had. If only a suitable seed were available, even now—hic!”
She trailed off and then suddenly looked downward. Realizing something, she jumped up and off of me.
Then, as if nothing happened, she darted out the door in a blur. All of that occurred within a single breath.
I could roughly guess the reason. Again, I had just woken up.
And the meat of Azure Cold Serpent I ate to restore vitality at the Ice Palace certainly had the effect of a spirit beast.
Feeling slightly embarrassed, I stood up and fixed my clothes—when small fingers cautiously gripped the doorframe.
A moment later, white hair peeked in. Looking at a spot slightly away from me, she spoke.
“Ah, um, euh... so, what about today’s sparring?”
“I’ll make time from now on for sparring with you, Senior Seorin.”
“Ooh! Very well! I’ll go wait downstairs first!”
Seorin vanished with a bright smile beyond the doorframe.
A beat later, the patter of her footsteps echoed with satisfaction—I couldn’t help but chuckle as I firmly strapped my sword to my waist.
***
Though the addition of sparring with Seorin slightly delayed our journey, we arrived at the Black Lotus Sect without further issues.
From behind a grand hall that was so lavish it felt gaudy rather than dignified, the Black Lotus Sect Leader and Sama Yuryeon appeared arm-in-arm, greeting us with loving affection.
And—
"This One extended an invitation, but all that returned was a blade."
“Blood Flame Sword Demon! Is this how you repay our goodwill?!”
They gnashed their teeth at our greater-than-expected fighting force.
“Calm down and take this first.”
“I heard late and was a bit delayed in preparing.”
Upon seeing the golden toad I had prepared and the golden calf Namgung Dowi brought at my suggestion, their twisted expression smoothed out.
“So we have brought precious guests! Come in, come in! In the name of This One, I welcome you all!”
“…”
Truly, an unchanging person.