Moonlit Phantom Sword Dance

A short while later, once Tang Yeo-eun had calmed down, they were finally able to hear the full details of what had happened from the Radiant Sword.

Seonu Jin asked him with a dumbfounded expression.

“What?! Then are you saying Mak Ujeon and Ga Yuak were fake as well?”

The Radiant Sword smiled and answered.

“Yes, they were fake. The real ones are still wandering inside the Mad-Soul Gate. How could people who had lost their reason inside the Mad-Soul Gate take the second trial in the first place? They were merely a means of making you feel desperate and pressed for time.”

“Haah….”

“My goodness.”

They felt utterly drained.

Now, even Seonu Jin could no longer distinguish where reality ended and illusion began.

He suddenly began wondering whether even the present situation might be fake.

The Radiant Sword burst into hearty laughter.

“Hahahaha! My apologies. However, the fact that you have passed every gate and the present situation are unquestionably real. I swear it upon my name.”

Somewhat reassured by his declaration, Seonu Jin cautiously asked the Radiant Sword.

“Why did you go this far? In my opinion, trials like these seem more likely to kill countless innocent people than to successfully pass on your legacy.”

The Radiant Sword nodded with a profound gaze and answered.

“Yes, it is only natural that you would think so. From your perspective, it may seem that these trials were created merely to torment people rather than to find a successor.”

Seonu Jin cleared his throat when the Radiant Sword seemingly read his thoughts exactly.

The Radiant Sword continued.

“However, I had no other choice. The Moonlit Phantom Sword Dance I wish to pass on is far too dangerous a martial art.”

“Did you say… dangerous?”

“Yes. It is an exceedingly dangerous martial art.”

The Radiant Sword’s ensuing explanation went as follows.

The Radiant Sword’s Moonlit Phantom Sword Dance was a martial art that placed a person in a hallucinatory state and drew out the power of their subconscious mind.

According to him, once someone mastered the Moonlit Phantom Sword Dance, they could draw out as much as one hundred percent of their latent abilities.

“Most people do not realize it, but we usually die without ever using even ten percent of the latent abilities we possess. The reason people can display far more astonishing strength than usual when facing danger or desperation is also because of those dormant abilities.”

According to the Radiant Sword, as one’s attainment in the Moonlit Phantom Sword Dance increased, one could wield the greatest strength the body was capable of producing, the highest level of comprehension the mind could achieve, and the utmost concentration a human being could exert.

Seonu Jin had trained martial arts within his mental imagery using his exceptional memory, so he immediately understood how extraordinary that claim was.

He spoke in admiration.

“That is… astonishing. Being able to display one’s highest ability immediately is incredible, but I think the rate of improvement would be even more frightening.”

The Radiant Sword smiled and nodded.

“You possess keen insight. Correct. Being able to repeatedly experience the full release of one’s potential would be tremendous.”

Every person had days when their body was in good condition and days when it was not, moments when they could concentrate well and moments when they could not.

On the rare occasions when both conditions reached their peak at once, a person displayed the highest level of ability they were capable of producing.

Therefore, the training of most martial artists could be described as an effort to reproduce that peak ability under ordinary circumstances.

When they became capable of using that ability freely, it was called progress.

But what if one could always display that peak ability, regardless of time or circumstance?

Seonu Jin felt chills merely imagining it.

He could not even begin to imagine how quickly one might improve.

The Radiant Sword then spoke with a bitter smile.

“However, as with all things, light is inevitably accompanied by shadow. Can you guess what shadow follows the Moonlit Phantom Sword Dance?”

Seonu Jin thought for a moment before answering.

“The body may be unable to withstand it. It would exceed its safe limits.”

In a sense, the reason humans could not use their full abilities could be considered a form of self-preservation.

The body would be unable to endure continuously operating at its full capacity.

It was similar to how a bow capable of shooting an arrow one hundred jang would still snap its string or break if it were kept constantly drawn.

There was unquestionably a considerable difference between maximum output and safe output.

The same applied to humans.

When people used their minds for prolonged periods, they began to feel headaches.

But what if they continuously maintained their utmost concentration and mental processing speed?

Suppose a three-year-old child could produce enough strength to lift a massive boulder.

And suppose the child truly lifted it.

The human body would undoubtedly break down before long.

The Radiant Sword nodded at Seonu Jin’s answer, but soon shook his head again.

“What you said is also correct. However, that is not the true shadow of the Moonlit Phantom Sword Dance.”

“The true shadow….”

Seonu Jin fell into thought once more.

Was there another side effect to fully unleashing one’s latent abilities?

Nothing came to mind.

Just as he was about to admit that he did not know, he suddenly remembered that the first of the Radiant Sword’s trials had been the Mad-Soul Gate.

‘The Mad-Soul Gate. He said that he had no choice but to use trials like these because of the dangers of the Moonlit Phantom Sword Dance. In that case!’

After realizing something, Seonu Jin muttered as though groaning.

“The hallucinatory state. That is why the Mad-Soul Gate and the Two-Person Gate were necessary.”

The Radiant Sword sighed and nodded gravely.

“Impressive. Correct. The greatest danger of the Moonlit Phantom Sword Dance lies in entering a hallucinatory state to draw out one’s latent potential.”

Tang Yeo-eun asked as though she did not understand.

“A… hallucinatory state? Why is that dangerous?”

For her sake, the Radiant Sword slowly began explaining it in detail.

He explained why the Moonlit Phantom Sword Dance was dangerous and why he had been forced to seek successors in this manner.

“When one executes the Moonlit Phantom Sword Dance, one falls into a hallucinatory state. The mind becomes hazy, as though intoxicated by an aphrodisiac. Do you understand what that means? In that state, every decision is made according to one’s emotions. You might kill a passerby merely because you dislike his clothing, or annihilate an entire village because the sky is gloomy. Do you think those examples are too extreme? Surprisingly, I personally committed both acts.”

The Radiant Sword’s expression looked utterly devastated as he spoke.

Seonu Jin and Tang Yeo-eun could not find anything to say to him.

The Radiant Sword continued in a self-mocking tone.

“Do you know why the characters meaning ‘Radiant Chivalrous’ were attached to my epithet? It was because whenever I entered the hallucinatory state, I committed acts of madness, and whenever I regained my senses, I regretted them and desperately tried to make amends. Therefore, it was not true chivalry. It was merely a struggle to wash away my sins.”

After saying that much, the Radiant Sword fell silent for a moment.

He seemed to be looking back upon his past self.

Seonu Jin felt deep sorrow for him.

Although he had been one of the absolute masters of the martial world, Seonu Jin could imagine how exhausting and regret-filled his life must have been.

If the past he had shown them earlier was true, then he must have cursed the Moonlit Phantom Sword Dance while also being utterly unable to abandon it.

To avenge his wife, child, and acquaintances, he would have had no choice but to cling to it.

‘He had to master the Moonlit Phantom Sword Dance to obtain revenge, yet mastering it meant inevitably losing himself. How could such a life ever have been happy?’

Perhaps the Radiant Sword had even read that thought.

He smiled gently at Seonu Jin.

“Thank you.”

It was a short phrase, but the gaze with which he spoke contained many emotions.

The Radiant Sword resumed his story.

“In any case, that is why such verification was necessary for my successors. I needed proof that even if they learned the Moonlit Phantom Sword Dance and entered a hallucinatory state, they would not lose themselves—that no matter how desperate the situation, they would not stray from the righteous path. I believed it would be better not to pass it on at all than to give it to someone who lacked such character.”

Tang Yeo-eun now nodded as well.

She finally understood why these gates had been necessary.

Seonu Jin scratched his head with slight embarrassment and spoke to the Radiant Sword.

“Um, Senior. I apologize, but we may not be the successors you were seeking. The truth is that we passed the Mad-Soul Gate because we had learned a secret art that protects against inner demons. It is called the Great Lotus Mind-Purifying Art. So our wills may not be as strong as you believe….”

The Radiant Sword burst into loud laughter.

“Hahahaha! Hearing you confess that instead convinces me that you are precisely the successor I desired.”

He looked at Seonu Jin with a pleased smile.

“I also learned the Great Lotus Mind-Purifying Art. Therefore, that presents no problem whatsoever. In fact, already knowing it may prove an even greater advantage. Moreover, did the two of you not prove through the second and third gates that you are more than merely people who cannot be consumed by madness?”

Seonu Jin and Tang Yeo-eun were startled.

“What?! You also learned the Great Lotus Mind-Purifying Art, Senior?!”

Seonu Jin became somewhat uneasy.

If that were true, did it not mean the Great Lotus Mind-Purifying Art had failed to prevent the side effects of the Moonlit Phantom Sword Dance?

In that case….

As Seonu Jin considered this, the Radiant Sword elaborated.

“Yes, I also learned the Great Lotus Mind-Purifying Art. The fact that I remained sane for even half my life was entirely thanks to it. However, I learned it far too late. My attainment in the Moonlit Phantom Sword Dance had already become too profound for my progress in the Great Lotus Mind-Purifying Art to catch up. Thus, I did not completely regain my sanity until old age.”

“Ah!”

Only then did Seonu Jin feel relieved.

It was undeniably fortunate news.

If the problem had arisen because the Radiant Sword’s attainment in the Great Lotus Mind-Purifying Art was lower than his attainment in the Moonlit Phantom Sword Dance, then carefully regulating their progress should allow the latter to be learned much more safely.

That was apparently what he meant when he said already knowing the Great Lotus Mind-Purifying Art was an advantage.

The Radiant Sword smiled and added another remark.

“And… I was also the one who spread the Great Lotus Mind-Purifying Art throughout various places. To me, it was the greatest secret art, but because it produced no particularly visible effects, people were reluctant to practice it. So I bundled it together with several other martial arts and distributed it.”

Startled, Seonu Jin shouted.

“W-What?! Then the reason it was together with the Arhat Fist and Iron Arhat Heart Method was…?!”

“Oh, did you learn it from there? Correct. I was the one who distributed it. Since the Great Lotus Mind-Purifying Art was a secret art created by Shaolin, I paired it with Shaolin martial arts.”

“Huh!”

Seonu Jin let out a hollow laugh.

He felt both bewildered and amazed.

The Great Lotus Mind-Purifying Art within the Seonu Clan’s martial repository had actually been distributed by the Radiant Sword, and now Seonu Jin, who had learned it, had passed his trials and arrived here.

It felt as though an invisible thread of fate connected them.

When Seonu Jin looked at the Radiant Sword, the man was also watching him warmly.

Seonu Jin suddenly wondered whether the Radiant Sword had not merely been waiting for a righteous gentleman, but for someone connected to him by fate.

The Radiant Sword then lightened the atmosphere.

“Well, it seems I have now said everything that needed saying. Then I shall ask for your decision.”

He looked seriously at the two of them and asked.

“As I explained, the Moonlit Phantom Sword Dance possesses extraordinary advantages, but also terrifying flaws. It may even completely ruin your lives. What do you think? Are you still willing to learn such an unstable martial art?”

At his question, Seonu Jin and Tang Yeo-eun looked into each other’s eyes.

After exchanging gentle smiles, Seonu Jin answered on behalf of them both.

“We will do everything in our power to ensure that you never regret passing it on to us.”

At that answer, the Radiant Sword finally smiled brightly.

“Thank you. After more than forty years, I have finally found my successors.”

His voice held the weight of many years, deep regret, and relief all at once.

Tang Yeo-eun watched the Radiant Sword, then suddenly turned her head toward Seonu Jin.

The sight of him smiling brightly contrasted with the illusion of Seonu Jin she had seen earlier.

At that time, she had truly believed everything was over….

She had thought only that it was right for him to survive instead of her.

Being able to stand here now, both alive and smiling at each other, felt like a dream.

A truly happy dream.

“Lady Tang, draw your sword! I do not wish to kill you while you are defenseless!”

Tang Yeo-eun could not believe the situation before her.

Seonu Jin stood in front of her with crimson light blazing in his eyes, pointing his sword at her.

The very man who had supported and guided her heart like a pillar ever since she met him.

Tang Yeo-eun could never accept this situation.

She wept, shook her head, and pleaded with him.

“No, Young Master Seonu! Please come to your senses! You’ve been consumed by madness!”

However, Seonu Jin’s face merely twisted like that of an evil spirit.

“Stop speaking nonsense! This is not because of some madness! Do you not understand?! One of us must die if we are to stop them! If they obtain the Radiant Sword’s legacy, another monster no less terrible than the Blood Demon will appear in this world!”

Tang Yeo-eun despaired.

She knew that was not truly why Seonu Jin was behaving this way, yet she could not deny that his words were correct.

Tang Yeo-eun wiped away her tears with a sorrowful expression and nodded.

“Yes. You’re right. One of us must die anyway.”

Then she smiled at Seonu Jin.

Even Seonu Jin, consumed by madness, looked flustered at the sight of her smiling brightly through a tear-streaked face.

“And if one of us must die, then naturally it should be me. You are a far more exceptional person than I am, Young Master Seonu, and also… I could never kill you.”

Tang Yeo-eun tried to form the brightest smile she possibly could.

She hoped he would remember her final appearance as one in which she was smiling.

“I believe you will eventually overcome the madness. You are that kind of person. So… when that time comes, please remember me.”

After finishing, Tang Yeo-eun immediately turned around and launched herself forward.

Toward the lava lake blazing with crimson light.

As the heat scorched her body and the seething lava drew closer to the tips of her feet, she thought that her ending was not so bad.

She did feel regret that her life was ending just as she had finally begun to believe she might become happy.

But without him, she could never have become happy at all.

Therefore, perhaps she was dying at the happiest moment of her life.

Tang Yeo-eun closed her eyes and smiled.

Then, in the next instant, she realized that she had not died.