Peng Jin-ah (1)

A shocking statement.

Hand over Yu Seha.
Hand over your precious disciple.

Peng Jin-ah, frozen like stone at those words, barely managed to ask back.

“…Why all of a sudden…”

The Sword Empress replied.
As if it were the most natural thing.

“I told you. You’ve already learned everything you can. Isn’t it true that, as you are now, you’re just worthless straw to him?”
“…”
“That boy needs to rise higher. And I can elevate him even more.”

I’m stronger than you.

A statement uttered with certainty.
A cruel and merciless statement.
Peng Jin-ah clenched her fists.
She was frustrated that she could not refute it at all.

Peng Jin-ah bit her lip.
She felt a rising sense of rebellion.
Pouring all those emotions in, she swung her sword like lightning.

Kang-!

The Sword Empress easily blocked it and nodded.

“Yes, swordsmen like us speak with swords. Here I come, Jin-ah.”
“…Come!”

Kang-!
Kagakak-!
Kwaduk! Changgang!

The clash continued.
The swirling Overlord Sword Technique.
And the relentless defense spreading the beautiful plum blossom scent of the Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique.

Peng Jin-ah clearly heard the Plum Blossom Sword Empress’s words in her ear.
A clear provocation and a statement of fact.
That as you are now, you cannot handle Yu Seha’s genius.
She naturally got angry, but sadly, the words were rational and valid.

“I can teach him better.”

Kang-!

“His potential has already been fully revealed.”

Kang-!

“Shouldn’t you let him go for his own sake?”

Kang-!

Peng Jin-ah slowly, little by little,
felt herself shaking for sure.

She despaired.
The thought that her teacher might covet Yu Seha became reality.

Meanwhile, the Sword Empress’s Twenty-Four Plum Blossom Sword Technique steadily swept forward, cornering Peng Jin-ah.

She wavered more and more.
She began to collapse.
In the midst of this, a single phrase stirred her anger.

“After all, it’s only been about half a year and he’s just a mere cadet. What deep connection could you possibly have with him?”

-After all, he’s a short-lived breed who won’t live long… Why can’t you be honest with your own feelings?

The Sword Empress’s words.
Su Ok-bin’s words.
The two voices merged and echoed.

Peng Jin-ah gritted her teeth.
She gripped her sword as if to break it.
Even if she could not refute anything else.
At least this…
She could proudly shout.

“No.”
“Hmm?”
“It’s not a shallow connection, nor just a simple cadet.”

Yu Seha is.
The disciple is.
The one and only precious disciple is.
He is…!

“My precious existence.”

My hope.

“No matter the Master’s Residence, I will not hand him over!”

Peng Jin-ah dashed forward in one breath.

It was a reckless act.
A desperate charge with no turning back.

The Plum Blossom Sword Empress did not miss this and tried to repay with a perfect counter.

But surprisingly, Peng Jin-ah overwhelmed the Sword Empress’s counter in a single exchange.

“…!”

A strike far beyond the usual power Peng Jin-ah could muster.

She spun her body once.
She stabbed her sword with the momentum of a tiger pouncing on its prey.

It was definitely not a move from the Overlord Sword.
It was a sword style and path Peng Jin-ah chose unconsciously.

Her final choice.

She learned it from her mother in the past.
It was a technique from the Overlord Fearsome Sword, which she had abandoned out of resentment toward her.

The strength and speed unique to the Overlord Sword mixed with Overlord Fearsome Sword to produce a completely different power.

The Plum Blossom Sword Empress looked at this with surprised eyes.

‘Ah…’

There was no doubt.
For a moment, the image shown to Peng Jin-ah.

The Sword Empress was a teacher, elder sister, and mother figure to Wei Ga-ryeong.

Peng Chae-rin.
The former head of the family’s image overlapped with Peng Jin-ah.

Kang-!
Whirrr!

The sword the Sword Empress held flew up into the sky.
Whirling.
It plunged deeply into the ground.

Sleung-!

Peng Jin-ah pointed her sword at the Sword Empress’s neck.
She shouted proudly.

“I, I have won, Master!”

I have just proven it.

I have shown that my sword is still needed by Yu Seha.

“I still have more to teach him!”

So do not touch him carelessly.

He is my first and last…

“My precious disciple!”

10 seconds later.
Peng Jin-ah regained her senses.
A question naturally arose.

‘Huh…?’

She had defeated the Master.
An opponent she had never beaten before.
But she won.

A natural doubt and suspicion.

‘Did the Master go easy on me?’

Such a thought.

But this vanished instantly upon hearing the Sword Empress’s words.

“No.”
“Master…?”
“I didn’t go easy. I used my usual strength. Yet you still beat me.”

The Sword Empress smiled gently.

“Looks like you’ve finally found your light…”
“…Huh?”

Peng Jin-ah questioned.
The Sword Empress looked at her and raised both hands above her head.
Closing her eyes, she bowed her head.
It was undoubtedly an apology.

“Phew, sorry for the harsh words! I thought this was the only way for you to realize it yourself.”
“…Master?”

The Sword Empress looked at the bewildered Peng Jin-ah.
She gestured toward the ground.

“Shall we sit down and talk for a bit?”

The two sat together quietly.
The Sword Empress explained carefully, one by one.
That she had no intention of taking Yu Seha away.
She only mentioned it to provoke.

“…Why would you do that…”
“Before that, Jin-ah, what do you think is the decisive difference between A-rank and S-rank?”
“…Isn’t it the resolve of the mind?”
“Then, what exactly is that resolve?”

A natural silence.
It was natural.
Because she didn’t know, Peng Jin-ah remained at A-rank.

“Jin-ah, if you look at pure ability, you’re already close to S-rank. Your basic stats are even higher than mine. I’ve told you this before, so you know.”

“Yes, I know.”

“The reason you haven’t become S-rank is because you lack the kind of desire that can be called resolve.”

“…Desire?”

“Resolve isn’t something grand. It’s simply the will to reach your goal even if you have to abandon yourself. A desire stronger than anything else. For me, it was the desire to kill someone that brought me to S-rank.”

“…”

Peng Jin-ah was silent for a moment.
She glanced at the Sword Empress.

They had grown up like sisters for years.
Of course, the Sword Empress knew well who the man she sought revenge against was.

“Your words are harsh.”

The Sword Empress explained.
Usually, S-rank is where an A-rank who has reached the extreme naturally breaks through the wall.
If you can’t do this, it’s simply due to lack of ability or talent.

“But you’re the opposite. A very unusual case.”

Swinging your sword like crazy,
You whipped yourself with hatred and resentment.

You ran out your fury.
So you became stronger faster than anyone else, but…
You never found the intense resolve to abandon yourself.

“The rage you have is ultimately sadness. That won’t do. You’re still trapped in the past. You need a motivation so strong you’d abandon yourself. A desire so intense it drives you mad.”

“…Then, could it be that the reason you said that back then was…”

“Yes, that’s right.”

The Sword Empress’s words to Peng Jin-ah: ‘What exactly do you swing your sword for?’

She hoped Peng Jin-ah would find that reason.
A desire strong enough to let go of past pain.

“And you finally found it.”
“…Huh?”
“Yu Seha.”

That boy is your new strength.

Peng Jin-ah was stunned.
She wanted to question something…
She wanted to deny it…
But somehow, she couldn’t say no.

The Sword Empress smiled at her expression.
She patiently revealed the truth one by one.

“Your sword swings when thinking of that boy were clearly full of flaws. Not as sharp or fast as usual.”

But stronger than anything else.
The moment she took the strike, the Sword Empress was certain.
That fleeting strike was undoubtedly S-rank.

“When you resolved yourself thinking of that boy, you were S-rank.”
“…Th-That… just by thinking of that one thing—”
“-It’s no small thing, Jin-ah.”

No matter how powerful the skill.
Superior stats.
Even with great equipment, the outcome depends on the owner’s spirit and mindset.

Holding someone in your heart is itself a kind of power.

Among these, Peng Jin-ah’s heart was exceptional.

“It’s a bit embarrassing, but… that’s definitely love.”
“…”

Peng Jin-ah silently looked at the Sword Empress.

About 5 seconds.
Her face flushed.

About 10 seconds.
Her whole body turned reddish.

She tried naturally to deny it but couldn’t.
She remembered the conversation with Su Ok-bin.
When asked, “You love him, don’t you?” she couldn’t say no.

Only then did Peng Jin-ah.
The stubborn woman…
Finally face her own feelings head-on.

“Ah, ah…”

A short cry.
Her face was so flushed it seemed it would burst if touched.

Peng Jin-ah covered her face with her hands.

Yu Seha appeared in her mind.
He looked back at her.
Calling “Master~” and smiling.

Peng Jin-ah shivered.
The Sword Empress chuckled and patted her back.

“Our Jin-ah~ your shy face is truly a delight.”
“Ma-Master. Please say it’s not true. Please.”
“Yes, that’s right~ You love that boy~ Not just as a disciple… but as a man.”
“Th-That…”
“What’s the problem?”
“Huh?”

The Sword Empress smiled faintly.
Her unique expression was similar to Su Ok-bin’s wry smile.

“Age difference? With your skill, you can stay young until death. Even after decades, you and Yu Seha will remain young and beautiful.”

“Th-That’s not the problem!”

Peng Jin-ah screamed, citing morality, ethics, social status.

The Sword Empress covered her ears.
She looked at her as if saying, ‘Such stubbornness…’
Then she offered an alternative.

“Then from now on, swing your sword thinking of that boy.”
“Huh?”
“I guarantee that just keeping him in your mind will make you stronger than now. And you’ll realize.”

That Peng Jin-ah has definitely reached S-rank.

At the same time, S-rank is just the beginning.

You can see the distant world of countless stars beyond.

And…

There exists a celestial world called the Void that even surpasses those stars.

“…Even among S-ranks, skills vary greatly. It’s literally a world of difference. But let’s talk about that later.”
“…”

Peng Jin-ah looked at the Sword Empress.
Then sighed deeply.
It felt like someone hit her head with a hammer.
A numbing sensation came.
And shock.

‘I… Yu Seha…’

My precious disciple.
That boy…
Love?
And that, as a man?

Despair and worry came naturally.

‘How am I supposed to look at Yu Seha from now on?’

Suddenly, she thought of someone.
Her younger sister-like figure, Ju Na-young, with flaming red hair and green eyes.

‘Wait… then…’

Am I now a rival to Ju Na-young?

Really?

Someone she had known for over 10 years…
A girl who was practically like a younger sister?

Peng Jin-ah squeezed her eyes shut.

She thought one last thing.
As a teacher.
As a professor.
As an older sister figure…
She was disqualified.

After a time of embarrassment and confusion, a little later.

The Sword Empress spoke with a serious face.
There was something else she needed to tell her.
And this was even more important.

“I had many worries. Whether it was right to pull you in. But… now that you’re sure to reach S-rank, I think I can tell you.”

“…Master? What are you suddenly saying—”

“Peng Chae-rin unnie.”

“…”

Peng Jin-ah closed her mouth.
Why suddenly mention her deceased mother’s name?

“Jin-ah, as you know, your unnie’s end was… consumed by desire to break the wall, made a pact with a demon, and died swinging her sword recklessly… right?”

“…Master, why do you bring up mother? Surely you don’t have good memories of her—”

“-No. That’s not true.”

“…Huh?”

An unbelievable shocking statement followed.

“She did make a pact with a demon… but it was never her will.”
“…Master? What on earth are you saying…”
“She paid the price for defeat.”

The Plum Blossom Sword Empress turned her head.

Her usual narrow eyes were gone.

Her wide-open eyes blazed with black flames of hatred and vengeance.

Then she uttered a phrase that pierced deep into Peng Jin-ah’s heart.

“Unnie was…”

Was murdered.