麻豆工作室

 However, the match between the two women didn’t end as easily as they wished.

 It was to be expected.

 This fight wasn’t between opponents of disparate levels, but between one at the very end of first-rate and another at the entrance of the peak realm.

 In addition, the two martial artists also knew each other all too well.

  Clang–!

 Tang Hwa-seo deflected Hyeun’s sword thrust with her fist.

 After punching the blade of the sword away, she followed up in quick succession with a claw technique.

 Hyeun took a large step backwards to dodge the hand aiming for her throat.

 The two women thought simultaneously.

 ‘As I thought…’

 Troublesome.

 Tang Hwa-seo’s martial arts was deadly accurate; it was a skill she had learned to survive after struggling her entire life to control her poison qi.

 She had trained her body to ensure that not even the slightest amount of poison qi flowed in the wrong direction and her application of inner qi was as meticulous as her own personality.

 Of course, this didn’t mean Hyeun was at a disadvantage.

 She too was an exceptional talent, worthy of having Phoenix in her title.

 Even with all the unpleasant rumors that followed her wherever she went, her talent with the sword was the very reason she could become the representative of Emei.

 As fast and elusive as a mirage, her sword technique spelled disaster for Tang Hwa-seo.

  Clang–!

 As another sword strike was deflected, poison qi spread across the arena.

 Hyeun gritted her teeth.

 ‘So damn annoying.’

 There was a wall between the first-rate realm and peak realm.

 It was a barrier that no ordinary martial artist could break through.

 But this too was ultimately about martial arts, about physical combat.

 Because the fight wasn’t decided through realms alone, the compatibility of their skills also had to be considered.

 This duel with Tang Hwa-seo was fundamentally different from facing another swordsman.

 The true weapon of that woman who was viciously glaring at her wasn’t her claw technique, but her poison.

 It was her hidden hand that numbed her body with every breath she took.

 ‘There’s paralyzing and acidic poison.’

 Her movements were becoming sluggish.

 It felt like her inner qi was rapidly draining as time passed.

 A drawn-out battle would have surely led to defeat.

 However, seeking a quick resolution was difficult against such a solid defense.

 “How troublesome.”

 “I would expect as much from a monk.”

 “You speak quite vulgarly.”

 “What’s vulgar is your body.”

 Tang Hwa-seo’s eyes blazed.

 It was true that she was certainly angry and irritated, but aside from that, the dispersal of her poison caused it.

 “Unleash your sword qi.”

 “Are you asking to lose?”

 “There’s no joy in defeating an opponent who hasn’t given their all. It just gives the loser an excuse.”

 Hyeun laughed.

 “If you insist.”

  Whooosh–

 A white light gathered around Hyeun’s sword.

 It was a faint light that was yet to be fully settled.

 That was her sword qi.

 ‘She’s provoking me.’

 Hyeun knew that she was simply trying to make her inner qi dissipate even faster.

 But that wasn’t a reason not to accept her provocation.

 Her qi would scatter either way if she conserved it.

 So she had to push forward and seize victory in that small timeframe.

 “Here I come.”

 Tang Hwa-seo tensed up again.

 ‘I must not let that sword touch me.’

 She had to avoid her sword qi at all costs.

 Even if it seemed weak, it was still sword qi.

 If she carelessly punched the sword like before, her own inner cultivation would be damaged by it.

 There was only one to break through.

 ‘I have to get closer.’

 Tang Hwa-seo’s body was enveloped by an ethereal green qi, merely an imitation of those who had reached the Peak Realm.

 As the sensation of her body being torn apart by the poison engulfed her, she ignored the all-too-familiar pain and unleashed her technique.

  Ssssssh–

 Black Heaven Poison Arts.

 It was the secret art of the Sichuan Tang Clan direct line, which had reached four stars, and surged throughout her body.

 Then, Tang Hwa-seo’s form distorted.

  Sssssss–

 Serpent Shadow Step.

 With the foot technique she had practiced to the point of blisters when she was in the Tang Clan, she dashed forward and swung her hand downwards in a large arc.

 While this seemed like an obvious opening, Hyeun chose to retreat instead of striking back after sensing the lethal poison in the qi wave emanating from her.

 “Tsk, quick to notice again.”

 “Thank you for the compliment.”

 Hyeun swung her sword and dispersed the poison gathering around her.

 Taking in a deep breath in the momentarily cleared air, she lunged forward again.

 The fight was reaching its climax.

* * *

 There was a memory from the past.

 When Hyeun was the young age of fourteen, she qualified to attend the Dragon Phoenix Tournament.

 In those days, Hyeun had a fondness for her that was so intense it could only be described as yearning.

   –Pleased to meet you. Benefactor, are you the Poison Phoenix?

  –Who might you be?

  –Oh! I am Hyeun from Emei. I’ve always wanted to meet you…

  –Ah… The Emei Sect. Pleased to meet you as well. But I’m afraid I’m a bit preoccupied at the moment, could we possibly talk later?

  –Oh, yes!

 She was a woman who had taken part in the Dragon Phoenix Tournament one year prior to Hyeun, and at the age of fourteen, she had earned the title Poison Phoenix.

 To the young Hyeun, Tang Hwa-seo was her shining light.

  –What do you think? Aren’t I impressive?

  –I feel like I’m being ignored…

  –Well, what does it matter? It might be that way now, but it’ll be different once I make it to the main event, right? Or even if not this time, things will change as I continue to grow, won’t they? Won’t that be a good thing? Watching your expression change will be quite amusing, right?

 She was happy even when her greetings were ignored.

 Tang Hwa-seo, who spent her time alone during the Dragon Phoenix Tournament, carried her solitude with such grace that it became part of her charm.

 The fourteen-year-old Hyeun admired everything about her.

 If she showed no interest, then all she had to do was prove herself through martial arts.

 Hyeun believed that she was the only female martial artist talented enough to stand on equal footing with her.

  –I’m confident. Surely, the Poison Phoenix will come to recognize me.

 Hyeun proved those words the very next year at the Dragon Phoenix Tournament when she was fifteen.

  –White Phoenix. You’ve received such a title, I see.

  –I am too undeserving of such a name.

  –There’s no need to be modest.

  –Is it that obvious?

 She was happy.

 At last, she was standing next to Tang Hwa-seo, and her name had cemented in her mind.

 Perhaps that was the reason for her provocation.

  –Hm, I’ve heard that I’ll be the one to defeat you, Benefactor Tang.

  –I told you not to be too modest, not to be arrogant.

  –Are you unconfident?

  –You seem to misunderstand your place, Monk.

  –It will become clear on the martial arts stage.

  –The next match is soon. Perhaps I can help enlighten your Buddhist mind a little.

 That year, Hyeun lost to Tang Hwa-seo.

 It was a one-sided fight that ended in only three seconds, but still, she was happy.

 Because only she and Namgung Jincheon had managed to last more than three seconds against her.

 The sixteen-year-old Tang Hwa-seo was still the person she aspired to be like.

  –Benefactor Tang! Next time, I’ll try my best to win…

  –There’s no need.

  –Pardon?l

  –…Just know that. Ah, and sex in moderation. It’s not the best of hobbies. If you were to eat now, wouldn’t it be difficult to come back?

  –Ugh…!

 And that was why.

 Because she had admired her so much,

 Hyeun came to despise Tang Hwa-seo.

  –…She ran away, you say?

  –Yes, the Tang Clan denies it, but her escape is certain. Otherwise, why would the Poison Phoenix, whom the Tang Clan was so eager to display, be in seclusion for half a year now?

 After their last encounter at the Dragon Phoenix Tournament when she was fifteen, there was no further news of Tang Hwa-seo. And although she had earned the title of White Phoenix and started to be recognized in the martial world as a worthy opponent for her, it all seemed in vain.

 That day, Hyeun felt as if her world was crumbling down.

 The ever-so-proud Tang Hwa-seo, an idol that seemed indestructible, had fallen, and Hyeun, like a child who had lost a precious toy, came to a bitter realization.

  –…That’s all she was.

 As with any unrequited feelings, Hyeun turned her deep admiration into anger.

 Gathering the ashes of her burnt admiration, she fueled her flames of rage.

  –How foolish.

 And so, she grew stronger.

  –Sword Intent! That’s incredible! How could you have achieved it so soon…

  –Don’t make it such a big deal. I still have a long way to go.

  –What?

  –Time doesn’t flow only for me alone. Who knows, maybe the Poison Phoenix has reached even greater heights by now.

  –Come on, it’s been five years already. Sure, people in the martial world still pit you against the Poison Phoenix, but how can a woman who’s been running away even compare…

  –Sister.

  –Y-Yes!

  –There is no evidence of her running away. Neither the Tang Clan, the Orthodox Sects, nor the Noble Clans have confirmed that story.

 It might have been stubbornness.

 Hyeun might have simply wanted the vanished Tang Hwa-seo to know her name before proving herself.

 After all, her admiration ran so deep that she wanted to cling to whatever was left of it.

 The wait was long.

 Her admiration had turned into a darker, more twisted form of resentment.

 Then came the day of the banquet.

 Hyeun now faced an emotion she didn’t know what to call.

  –Are you sure that outfit is appropriate?

 There was a woman with some kind of playboy gigolo bastard by her side.

 Tang Hwa-seo was there, showing a side of her that she had never seen before.

 It was an unimaginably disappointing sight.

 This twisted longing should have ended, but despite the rightness of the moment, Hyeun felt something apart from disappointment.

  –Eh? Young Lady, what’s wrong?

  –Nothing. Just saw an unpleasant face.

 It was ironic.

 Despite her deep resentment, the mere fact that Tang Hwa-seo remembered her brought back the sense of joy she had known in her younger days.

 Hyeun found herself smiling almost instinctively.

 ‘I’ve won in martial arts.’

 There existed a part of herself that enjoyed indulging in such thoughts.

 All her subsequent actions were an extension of that line of thought.

 They were all based on the underlying question, ‘How can I make the Poison Phoenix sincere?’

  –Six years have passed, but it seems you haven’t changed much.

 Even criticizing her martial arts level was part of it.

  –I don’t believe I’ve met that Kind Benefactor standing behind you, may I be introduced?

 She even feigned interest in Mok Riwon, just to provoke her.

  –As I expected… Benefactor Tang must not like me. She’s so competitive, she probably felt offended to be on the same level as me.

 As well as trying to drive a wedge between the two of them.

 ‘Well, it wasn’t entirely unrelated to personal feelings.’

 Though her selfish desires had cooled off completely, but it didn’t matter in the end because Tang Hwa-seo had become genuine.

 Hyeun simply wanted to show her just how much she had grown in the past five years she had been gone.

 She also wanted to see if Tang Hwa-seo, that great female martial artist, was still there.

  Pak–!

 Thus, even though a fist was buried deep in her stomach, Hyeun could still smile through the breathtaking pain.

* * *

 The single blow took advantage of a small opening.

 Tang Hwa-seo smiled pleasantly at the sensation in her fist.

  Clink–

 When the sword fell to the ground with a clear ring, Hyeun coughed out loud, and the announcer declared.

 [Poison Phoenix! Victory!]

 “Wowwwww!!!”

 It was only then that she realized she had won and withdrew her fist.

 Still on her knees and coughing, Hyeun said while smirking.

 “What’s with the cowardly poison qi?”

 “What cowardice? It’s not something you wouldn’t have anticipated.”

 “Wow, how shameless.”

 “That’s the last thing I want to hear from you, Monk.”

 Tang Hwa-seo narrowed her eyes and looked down at her.

 ‘Really…’

 Even after all these years, she hadn’t changed one bit. Her manners were nothing like a monk, and even her fondness for worldly pleasures was less so.

 ‘I even gave her advice before I left.’

 Why did she make such a show of her desires? Tang Hwa-seo didn’t know.

 It was fair to say that her behavior might be why Hyeun was always so irritating.

 However, there was one thing even Tang Hwa-seo had to admit.

 “You’ve improved, I see. Not enough to beat me, though.”

 Hyeun looked up.

 Her eyes widened for a moment before she burst out laughing with a ‘pfft’ and said.

 “If only I had prepared against dispersed poison qi, I might have won, right?”

 With that, she collapsed forward.

 Facedown on the ground, despite her defeat, there was a refreshing smile on her face.

 “Ah, I’m so frustrated.”

 Hyeun muttered to herself in an overly dramatic manner while savoring the joy of the moment.

 It was a short match, but the outcome was sweet.

 The long-distorted and tainted longing she harbored was finally being restored to its proper place, all due to a single, impactful punch to the gut.

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