Chapter 463: Embracing the Darkness (3)

"Ah, you've arrived."

There was not a trace of apology on Yangcheon's face.

"Our headquarters are underground, you see. The ventilation is more than adequate, but I imagine you still found it rather stifling."

"I can't say I was comfortable."

Her voice was decidedly stiff. She seemed deeply displeased.

Yangcheon's smile never faltered.

"Still, I hear my subordinates took good care of you."

That was hardly the thing to say to someone he had kept waiting for so long. Indeed, Jeokyeon, the Gate Master of Lotus Gate, one of the branches of Putuo Hermitage, made no effort to conceal her displeasure.

Naturally, Yangcheon couldn't have cared less about her mood.

"Now then, I understand you wanted to see me?"

Jeokyeon looked at him in disbelief.

"Didn't you say you would give us an answer to our proposal?"

"I did."

Yangcheon nodded.

"I certainly said as much, but as you must understand, this is a matter that requires careful consideration on our part as well."

"Quite some time has already passed."

"This is a matter that would warrant months of deliberation. Surely you don't think the name of Putuo carries so little weight that I could reach a decision after considering it for a mere few days?"

His words were an acknowledgment of Putuo Hermitage's importance. Jeokyeon's expression softened somewhat.

"I understand your concerns, Manor Lord. But I hope you will also understand that we have very little time."

Yangcheon tilted his head.

"How curious. Why are you in such a hurry?"

Jeokyeon frowned.

"Didn't I explain this before? Lotus Gate intends to enter the world. We plan to make our candidate a symbol of pure martial power, rather than subjecting her to trials as we did in the past."

"Yes, I remember."

"If we delay too long, the other branches may resort to underhanded tactics. Our candidate, this girl here, possesses talent that far surpasses anything the other branches can offer. But their greed grows worse with every passing day. There's no telling what they might do."

Yangcheon's gaze naturally shifted to the woman beside Jeokyeon.

She was around Buseon's age, yet the power she possessed was truly extraordinary.

No matter how many times I look at her, she never ceases to amaze me.

Her aura was perfectly contained. In terms of sheer martial power, she surpassed the leaders of the great sects. Her strength was so formidable that Yangcheon could scarcely sense any difference between her and the present Yeon Hojeong.

A genius like this was exceedingly rare. Even Yangcheon himself had not reached such heights at her age.

Her only real weakness is her inexperience, which makes her far too naive. But with martial arts of that caliber, she should be able to handle most unexpected situations well enough.

Yangcheon spoke.

"Your name was Yeonsim, wasn't it?"

Yeonsim bowed her head.

"That is correct."

"Every time I see you, I'm reminded of just how remarkable your martial arts are. Considering your age, you've reached a level of mastery several years earlier than I did."

"You flatter me."

"Then there's something I'd like to ask you."

A mischievous smile spread across Yangcheon's face.

"Do you want to become the next Sword Empress?"

The question came out of nowhere. Jeokyeon appeared even more startled by it than Yeonsim.

Yeonsim raised her head and looked at Yangcheon.

In that instant, a searing pain pierced her eyes, as though they were being burned from within.

Incredible.

Yeonsim could see it. Her eyes, cultivated through Putuo Hermitage's divine art, the Bodhisattva Art, allowed her to perceive it.

This man is filled with desires beyond anything I could have imagined.

He was of perfectly ordinary build, neither particularly large nor small.

His pleasant appearance made it difficult to imagine that he could be a bad person.

But to Yeonsim's eyes, Yangcheon was nothing less than a mass of pure desire. Domination, victory, destruction, revenge—he was overflowing with aggressive urges that a practitioner of the Dharma should never harbor.

To Yeonsim, this was a far greater shock than even Yangcheon's overwhelming martial power.

"Why are you looking at me like that? I suppose my question caught you off guard."

"...No."

Yeonsim closed her eyes.

"I do have a desire to become the Sword Empress."

"Hmm, is that so?"

"But..."

"But?"

When Yeonsim opened her eyes again, her voice was considerably calmer.

"If becoming the Sword Empress means I must fight people who are like family to me, then I do not wish for it."

Jeokyeon cried out.

"Yeonsim!"

"That is how I truly feel."

"How dare you say something so weak-minded...!"

Just then, Yangcheon raised a hand, cutting Jeokyeon off.

He looked directly at Yeonsim and asked, "Is that truly how you feel?"

"Yes."

"I see. In that case..."

Yangcheon turned toward Jeokyeon.

Her face was filled with bewilderment and frustration. Despite all her attempts to persuade her, Yeonsim, the successor to Lotus Gate, had not changed her mind. The realization infuriated Jeokyeon.

"Are you telling me that you, the Gate Master of Lotus Gate, came to ask me, Yangcheon, for support without even managing to convince your own successor?"

Jeokyeon immediately answered.

"She's simply confused. This girl understands our branch's long-cherished ambitions perfectly well. She only spoke that way because she was flustered by the situation. There is no need for you to concern yourself, Manor Lord."

"Do you truly believe what you just heard was nothing more than a thoughtless remark born of confusion?"

"Of course."

"Then I'm even more disappointed. It means you have failed to understand what your own successor truly feels."

"...!"

The corners of Jeokyeon's eyes trembled.

Yangcheon turned back to Yeonsim.

"I know you meant what you said. Had you dared to lie to my face, I would never have forgiven you."

These were the words of the Fighting King himself. They did not sound like a joke.

"And that is precisely why I'm disappointed in you as well."

"...Pardon?"

Both Jeokyeon and Yeonsim were stunned.

Yangcheon's gaze deepened.

"If your feelings are not going to change, you should never have come here in the first place."

"...!"

"More importantly, do you think a man like me, whose heart is filled with the desire to conquer the world, would look favorably upon a practitioner who approaches an age of rival warlords with such a soft-hearted attitude?"

"Manor Lord."

"Life is a struggle!"

The sudden, thunderous force of Yangcheon's voice made both women flinch.

"If you have no desire to become the Sword Empress, that's one thing. But how can someone who clearly holds that dream in her heart shrink from the struggle and retreat in fear?"

"...?!"

"Tell me, is that sword in your hand truly a suitable instrument for spiritual cultivation? If it is merely a tool for cultivating yourself, why have you devoted so much effort to the sword path? A sword is a weapon made for killing! How can someone who takes up a weapon and swings it about claim to be properly cultivating the Dharma?"

His words were nothing short of outrageous. They amounted to a rejection of Putuo Hermitage's centuries of history.

Jeokyeon spoke.

"We came here today to hear your decision, Manor Lord, not to debate the history of our sect."

"You fool!"

"W-What did you say?!"

"Weren't you the one who declared that Putuo's centuries of history had been misguided, that you would enter the world and fulfill your mission of salvation? Yet now that I'm telling you Putuo's history was misguided, you find it so unpleasant to hear?"

"...!!"

"If you seek spiritual cultivation, immerse yourself in the scriptures, endure hardship, and attain enlightenment! If you seek the world, then wield your sword without sentiment as a weapon of struggle! The Sword Empress? Did you truly believe such a symbol would be of any use to a community of spiritual practitioners?!"

It was a merciless rebuke.

And because Yangcheon spoke from the heart, his words carried all the more force.

Perhaps that was why Jeokyeon could only falter. She could think of nothing to say in response.

Yangcheon fixed his burning gaze on Yeonsim.

She wanted to turn away from those eyes. Yet, for some reason, those eyes, brimming with desires she found almost unbearable, kept drawing her gaze back.

"You say you want to become the Sword Empress? Then become the Sword Empress! You want to be a spiritual practitioner? Then put down your sword! Anyone who tries to avoid the struggle because she cannot commit herself to either path is nothing more than a fool who has accepted defeat without ever fighting!"

"I-I..."

"Do you think this world is so forgiving that it will embrace even someone like that?"

"...!!"

An intense heat stirred Yeonsim's heart.

Yangcheon's eyes flashed.

"You have talent. The fact that you have reached such heights despite Putuo's halfhearted teachings is proof of your extraordinary talent and effort. But someone blessed with talent who turns away from her gifts and allows them to go to waste cannot be said to be doing the right thing, either."

"..."

"If you wish to let your talent go to waste, then find another path that you truly desire, one free of conflict. But if there is a desire in your heart to become a great swordswoman, then embrace that desire!"

Yangcheon's words struck Yeonsim with such force that it felt as though heaven and earth had been shaken.

Embrace my desire?

The enlightenment sought by Buddhism was attained by suppressing desire and finding the path to liberation. Desire was regarded as evil to such an extent that it had even been personified as the evil god Mara.

To Yeonsim, who had been raised on such teachings, Yangcheon's words were utterly unacceptable.

But even so...

Despite everything...

Every word he spoke was driving itself deep into her heart.

What he's saying is wrong. I know it is.

What he's saying is right. To Yangcheon, at least, it must be.

But what about me?

What is it that I truly want?

That was what it all came down to.

Yeonsim had not been shaken because Yangcheon's words were right. She was shaken because she realized that she had never once looked honestly at what she herself wanted.

I've been caught between the two.

Yes. That was exactly what she had been.

And it was probably true of many other swordswomen of Putuo, not just her.

But... wanting something is itself desire, an affliction. To accept such a thing while living as a practitioner of the Dharma...

Suddenly, a thought occurred to Yeonsim.

Did I truly want to attain enlightenment?

She didn't know. She had pursued the Dao. She had felt compelled to attain it. But she did not think she had ever actually wanted it.

Then what was it that I wanted...?

Yeonsim's eyes wavered.

...To become the Sword Empress?

Countless people had praised her talent.

Countless people had declared that she was the one most likely to become the next Sword Empress.

But Putuo had several other swordswomen whose talent rivaled her own. Their very existence had been enough to spur Yeonsim on.

Then why did I want to become the Sword Empress?

What was the Sword Empress, anyway? Wasn't she merely a symbol of Putuo?

A true spiritual practitioner would never covet such a symbol. Yet Yeonsim had coveted it. Hers was hardly the attitude befitting a practitioner of the Dharma.

Only now did Yeonsim finally understand.

I didn't want to become the Sword Empress. I wanted to become the Sword Empress so I could prove myself to the world.

That desire had been there all along.

She had wanted recognition.

Yangcheon smiled.

Yeonsim stood lost in thought, staring blankly at the steps. Her aura was beginning to fluctuate ever so slightly.

Not bad.

Yeonsim's talent was extraordinary. If that talent blossomed, if he could make this genius his own, she would be the perfect blade with which to strike a blow against Perverse Lust.

This is only the beginning. I'll help you discover your true self. And in return, you will become a divine sword for me, one that will be pointed straight at Perverse Lust.

Just then—

"Manor Lord."

White Rat's voice came from outside the great hall.

"I'm speaking with guests. Unless it's urgent, come back later."

"Well... someone with whom you arranged a meeting has arrived, Manor Lord."

"A meeting?"

"Yeon Hojeong and his companions."

A smile immediately spread across Yangcheon's face.

"Show them in."