CHAPTER 38: WHAT’S A SWORD FLOWER?

A dumb sound slipped out of my mouth in that moment. My mind went blank, and no thoughts came to me. My heart ignored its master’s will, pounding wildly and refusing to calm down.

"Oh, the lady’s blushing too!"

"""Oooooh!!!!"""

The chatter of the drinkers snapped me back to reality.

...

...

"Even if it’s a tavern bet, you shouldn’t make wagers that could offend someone!"

"Sorry..."

"Hands higher!"

Even if it was a joke, fake or not, there are things you do and things you don’t—how could he pull this stunt and expect to just move on? I gave a sharp reprimand to the other drinkers there too, then dragged him upstairs to his room and started lecturing him.

"I knew it was a jest, but if another woman misunderstood it and only found out later it was a prank, do you not realize how rude that could be to her?"

"I know..."

"Then why would someone who knows that do such a thing?!"

"...I’ve got no excuse, even with ten mouths."

Just like before, he really had no integrity. Whether it’s with a man or a woman, relationships should be pure and steadfast...

Tremble tremble.

"Uh, uh... my arms are really..."

"No whining!"

"It’s not whining—it’s real! I’ve been frail since I was a kid; I don’t have a shred of muscle!"

"..."

It really irked me, but I decided to let it slide just this once. Though I couldn’t see his face, he did seem remorseful.

"Be more careful next time."

I walked over and lowered his trembling arms myself. How could that be so hard? His slender arms were drenched in sweat. Before I knew it, the small room was filled with his scent. I’d need to air it out before sleeping.

With the lesson over, I was about to send him to his room when—

"...Uh, Miss?"

"What now?"

"If it’s not too rude, could you help me up? I think my legs are cramping too..."

"Sigh..."

What a fragile body. With a sigh, I grabbed his outstretched arm and pulled him up, feeling a weight lighter than I’d expected. In the process, our bodies inevitably pressed close, and his scent hit me even stronger.

"..."

"T-Thank you..."

"Get to your room quick. It’s late."

He hobbled out, leaning on the wall, and I opened the window to let out the fragrance—no, the smell—that had filled the room.

"...Ha..."

Thump thump.

Truly, my master was right—people’s hearts are harder than the sword. Not a single word of hers was wrong.

Sword Flower Han Soyeon.

Rumors of the "Sword Empress" having a disciple had spread quietly for a long time, but since she rarely appeared publicly, she existed mostly as a whisper. Over time, tales about her piled up, and it soon became known that she was a stunningly beautiful and kind figure, much like her master.

As more people hoped she’d show herself properly, she finally appeared at the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament. And when she formally stepped into the light, people didn’t hesitate to bestow upon her the title of Sword Flower (劍花).

...

...

"Hoho, this year’s young talents are full of promise too."

At the spot with the best view of the sparring arena, the martial alliance leader sat with two empty chairs beside him, stroking his beard as he watched the noisy preparations for the next match. Known as one of the heroes who stopped the Blood Cult’s calamity ten years ago, his back carried a lonely air.

In that war with the Blood Cult, the alliance leader of that era lost his life, and this man had hastily taken the vacant seat, guarding it for a decade now. Countless tournaments, including the Dragon-Phoenix Tournament, had been held since, but the empty seats beside him didn’t fill—rather, they dwindled, leaving just two.

Yet despite that, he seemed in good spirits.

"Your disciple made it to the finals, and you only show up now? Isn’t that a bit cold?"

One of the empty seats had finally found its owner.

"I didn’t raise her to fall before the finals."

"Hoho, Lady Yuwol, it’s been ages, but your personality hasn’t changed. Still, after rejecting every invitation I sent for ten years, seeing this result—how could I complain?"

"...I passed the age for ’Lady’ long ago."

A woman youthful in appearance yet bold enough to act rudely toward the alliance leader—but knowing her identity, no one could fault her. She was one of the heroes who’d stood with him against the Blood Cult ten years ago.

"Anyway, I figured you’d come, but what’s with the other seat?"

"Originally, I prepared eight seats ten years ago, but they kept shrinking—now only two are left."

"...Wasn’t it eight?"

"That friend got officially designated, so..."

"...Ah."

They both recalled the same person at once. A reliable comrade during the war, but after the Blood Cult was repelled, he stole a weapon his allies cherished and fled—the Divine Thief.

"To think you’d forget even him, so engrossed in raising your disciple. I recall Lady Yuwol had something stolen by him too."

"...I wasn’t that attached to my sword. It was the other one who went berserk."

"Haha, Lady Socheon did lose it—talking about tearing him limb from limb... Hard to believe she’s a Taoist with that mouth."

"That’s why we never got along."

"Meeting an old acquaintance after so long brings back memories—it’s nice. So you’re curious about the other seat? It’s Lady Socheon’s."

"Tch."

The Sword Empress clicked her tongue, picturing a certain face.

"She’s still kicking, I see. Both Lady Socheon and Lady Yuwol seem to have gotten younger instead of aging—unlike me."

"..."

Ten years. Unlike them, the alliance leader and others who hadn’t reached the realm of rejuvenation bore the full weight of time. No matter how strong your martial arts, you couldn’t defeat age.

"...Shouldn’t you focus on training too?"

"Hoho, how can you all shove the alliance leader role on me and then say that? You know how busy it keeps me."

"..."

"I’ve been thinking of stepping down anyway. At my age, it’s time to pass it to the younger ones."

"...I hope we can meet again."

"Hoho, I’ll send an invitation next time too—bring your disciple again."

Soon after, the finals began, and two figures stepped out. The Sword Dragon of the Namgung Clan and the Sword Flower of the Huashan Sect. Both famed for their swordsmanship, they drew heavy anticipation from the crowd.

"Who do you think will win?"

"Is that worth answering?"

"Expected that response."

After exchanging bows, the signal to start rang out, and the scent of plum blossoms filled the arena.

...

...

"Master! I won! I didn’t disgrace your name—"

"Yes, yes. Good work."

The Sword Empress patted her disciple’s head.

"Ack! You’ll mess up my hair! I’m a proper adult now—this kind of thing..."

"Hide that goofy grin before you talk."

"Eep!"

The Sword Flower quickly covered her mouth with her hands.

"I heard you dragged out matches you could’ve ended quickly throughout the tournament—why?"

"Uh... you noticed?"

"Even if you’re unmatched at your age, Soyeon, there are greater masters here. Did you think you could fool all their eyes?"

"Eek..."

Had she gone all out, she could’ve ended every match—finals included—in ten moves. Her skill was that peerless among her peers.

"Was it deception?"

"N-No! I just didn’t want the matches to end too fast because of me and ruin my opponents’ reputations... Even if I won, I wanted to let them show their skills to the world..."

"What if that very act hurt their feelings instead? Didn’t you consider that?"

"T-That..."

The Sword Flower’s face crumpled. Tears welled in her clear eyes, on the verge of spilling.

Hug.

"It’s fine. Your heart’s in the right place—why would I blame you?"

The Sword Empress pulled her disciple, so like her, into an embrace.

"Just take this as a lesson. Blind kindness isn’t always good. The world’s more tangled than you think."

"Sob... I understand... sniff..."

"Don’t cry. Isn’t this a joyous day? You proved you’re the best among the Central Plains’ young talents."

"But... if I hadn’t done that petty consideration... I wouldn’t have hurt their feelings, and maybe I’d have earned the title Phoenix instead of Sword Flower..."

Flower and Phoenix. Both suited women, but one focused on beauty, the other on martial prowess.

Pat pat.

"Was that weighing on you so much?"

"Sob... I tarnished your name..."

"When I was your age, my title was Sword Flower too."

"...Huh?"

The current Sword Flower looked up at her master with startled eyes.

"Curious why I got Sword Flower instead of Sword Peak?"

The past Sword Flower smiled and spoke to her disciple.

"For the same reason as you."