Chapter 176

Chapter 176
Chapter: 176

Chapter Title: Traveling Together (1)

“The arrangements for the children have been concluded with care.”

Neung Sohwa gave a subtle nod as she looked toward the five funeral urns held by Dan Rihwa, the White Sword Unit Leader.

“The Tang Family handled the process with great sincerity.”

“I offered my gratitude to them earlier.”

Neung Sohwa thought back to the head of the Tang Family, who had bowed low multiple times to express his thanks, insisting that it was only through the intervention of the Sword Pavilion that they survived the catastrophe.

“Ensure their safety. When our journey brings us back to the Sword Pavilion, we must provide them with a proper enshrinement and all the honor they deserve.”

“I will see to it.”

“And another thing…”

“Is there something else? You seem hesitant.”

Noticing the exhaustion in Neung Sohwa’s voice, Dan Rihwa paused briefly before continuing.

“Young Master Sima has requested an audience with you.”

“Young Master Sima?”

Her gaze sharpened instantly, the fatigue seemingly evaporating from her face.

Following her duel with Dang Cheonhwa and the chaotic clash with the Thunderclap Temple that followed, there had been no opportunity for a private conversation amidst the turmoil.

“That is correct.”

“Where is he? Has he arrived at our quarters?”

“He mentioned he would be waiting at the Fragrant Cloud Pavilion.”

“Fragrant Cloud Pavilion? I am unfamiliar with that location.”

“I looked into it—it is a structure situated near a decorative pond on the eastern side of the Tang Family estate.”

Neung Sohwa made a move to stand up, but her eyes fell upon the urns in Dan Rihwa’s grasp, and she slowly sat back down.

“I am a sorry sight, am I not?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“Tell him that I am far too drained today. Request that we meet in a day or two instead.”

Observing the look of self-reproach on Neung Sohwa’s face, Dan Rihwa concluded that the strain of the recent duel was still weighing heavily on her. She nodded in understanding.

“I shall deliver your message.”

With a respectful bow, Dan Rihwa exited the room.

“What was the verdict? Did she agree to go see him right away?”

Jin Lim rushed forward and grabbed Dan Rihwa’s sleeve with excitement.

“She appears to be quite spent. She has pushed the meeting back.”

“Truly? That is quite unexpected. I cannot fathom why she would wait.”

Jin Lim tilted her head in confusion.

“Lower your voice and see to the needs of the Pavilion Lord. Ensure she receives proper nourishment.”

Jin Lim flinched under the weight of Dan Rihwa’s stern expression and gave a quick nod.

“Understood.”

Despite her compliance, Jin Lim remained puzzled. Over the last year, even though she tried to mask it, Jin Lim was well aware of how desperately Neung Sohwa had wished to reunite with Sima Geon.

The two finally met the following day.

When Neung Sohwa reached the Fragrant Cloud Pavilion accompanied by Dan Rihwa and several guards, she found Sima Geon already there. He greeted her with a warm smile.

“You have arrived.”

“Please forgive my tardiness.”

“Do not worry, I only recently arrived myself. I was told the duel left you quite fatigued—have you managed to recover?”

Neung Sohwa offered a somewhat sheepish smile at Sima Geon’s concern.

“I am feeling much better now.”

“That is good to hear.”

Sima Geon let out a soft breath of relief and began pouring tea he had already prepared.

“Please, have some.”

“My thanks.”

Neung Sohwa took a slow sip, keeping her eyes lowered before eventually looking up at him.

“So, what prompted this sudden invitation?”

“I believe I behaved poorly the other day.”

“Behaved poorly?”

“I was informed that I caused you distress by speaking too much about the details of your duel.”

“What? Not at all. I wonder who told you such a thing…?”

The Sword Queen stopped herself, having a very good idea of who had been leaking such information.

“It did not upset you?”

“No, truly it did not.”

“I am glad. The thought of it has been troubling me for several days.”

Sima Geon exhaled in relief and took a drink of his own tea. Neung Sohwa followed suit, her eyes cast down once more.

A quiet stillness settled between them. It lasted for only a few breaths, yet for both of them, the seconds felt stretched out and heavy.

“Regardless, I was saddened to hear about your teacher. The suddenness of such news must have been a terrible shock. I find myself at a loss for words to offer you comfort.”

“Thank you. My master often spoke of her desire to see you again, should the fates allow it.”

“Is that so?”

A look of melancholy passed over Sima Geon’s face as he pictured the former Sword Queen, a woman who had always carried herself with such poise and warmth.

“She was also greatly anticipating your duel.”

“She was?”

Sima Geon’s eyes widened in surprise.

“She was aware that I had sent you the challenge.”

“Ah! Of course.”

Sima Geon felt a flush of heat in his cheeks, remembering how he had mistakenly thought the challenge was a confession of love.

“How is the progress of the Sword Queen’s Journey? I have been traveling through quite isolated regions, so news has been hard to come by.”

A dark cloud seemed to pass over Neung Sohwa’s features.

“Because of the obligations of the Sword Queen’s Journey, I was unable to even observe a proper mourning period for my teacher. I feel like a failure as a disciple.”

“How can you say that…?”

“Before she departed to face the Heavenly Demon Cult Leader, my master left me with a final command. She insisted that the Sword Queen’s Journey must go on, no matter what. It was as if she knew a darkness was approaching. She understood everything that was to come, and yet…”

Tears began to glaze Neung Sohwa’s eyes.

Realizing Sima Geon was watching her, she turned her head away, wiped the moisture from her face, and tried to muster a smile.

“I continue this path to honor her final wishes. Along the way, we have even been targeted by those who seem to belong to the Blood Death Cult.”

Neung Sohwa instinctively reached for the back of her neck. Sima Geon’s perceptive gaze caught the small scar there. It was tiny, but it was the kind of mark a woman would naturally be self-conscious about.

“My own stubbornness led to many casualties within the White Sword Unit.”

Neung Sohwa looked toward Dan Rihwa, who stood a short distance away.

“Tradition dictates that a disciple on the Sword Queen’s Journey travels alone or with very few companions. However, after my teacher passed, I was assigned protectors because I had become the Sword Pavilion Lord. I fought against it initially but eventually agreed to a small escort. Following the third duel, we were caught in an ambush, and nearly every member of the White Sword Unit protecting me was killed. If not for the valiant stand of Unit Leader Dan Rihwa, I likely would have perished as well. Now, I have no choice but to travel with the support of the White Sword Unit.”

“This may sound cold, but your presence became a stroke of luck for the Tang Family. It allowed them to survive their own crisis safely.”

“I suppose one could view it in that light.”

Neung Sohwa gave a small, weary smile.

“Tell me, how many matches have you completed thus far?”

“Twelve in total.”

“And I assume you remain undefeated?”

Sima Geon asked the question in a lighthearted manner, but he noticed Neung Sohwa’s posture stiffen.

Seeing her reaction, Sima Geon felt a pang of regret.

If what he had heard from Manchu was accurate—that a Sword Queen on her journey had never known defeat—then her hesitation implied she might have actually lost a match.

Just as he was about to apologize for the question, Neung Sohwa smiled at him gently.

“I have not lost a match yet.”

“Haha! That is excellent.”

Sima Geon laughed, feeling a weight lift from his chest.

“However, there have been moments where I wondered if the result would be the same if the match were a fight to the death rather than a formal duel. My encounter with Elder Poison Ghost felt that way.”

Sima Geon thought of the Ten Thousand Petal Storm technique used by Dang Cheonhwa, and how Neung Sohwa’s blade had managed to stay it.

That technique was a masterpiece of martial arts. It was flawless and utterly terrifying in its destructive power.

The fact that Neung Sohwa possessed the skill to nullify it was staggering. He had sensed her prowess during the conflict with the Long River Water Alliance, but she appeared to have grown significantly stronger since then.

It occurred to him that the Sword Queen’s Journey wasn’t merely a demonstration of power to the world; it was a path of refinement, a way to forge her skills into something perfect through combat with masters.

He also noted that despite her ability to stop the Ten Thousand Petal Storm, her style didn’t feel entirely finished. It was a subtle feeling, but he was certain of it.

“Even so, I find it hard to believe you would lose.”

“Why do you say that?”

“If your foe were truly fighting for their life, you would do the same. You were holding something back against Elder Poison Ghost, were you not?”

“No, I put forth my full effort…”

“That is not what I mean. You gave your best for a match—but you did not fight with the raw intent to kill, putting your very soul on the line, as I described.”

“Of course not. It was a sanctioned duel.”

Neung Sohwa’s tone became a bit more defensive.

“That is exactly why the elder did not go further. He could feel that distinction.”

“Ah!”

The realization of Sima Geon’s point hit Neung Sohwa, and she let out a soft sound of understanding.

“I look forward to the day I see the true, unbridled power of the Sword Queen’s art, used when everything is at stake.”

Neung Sohwa felt a bit of color rise to her cheeks at being addressed by her title so directly.

To mask her shyness, she pivoted the conversation.

“And what of your own journey, Young Master Sima? I was told you were pursuing a certain individual. And I noticed someone with you whom I had not seen before.”

“You are referring to Surin.”

Neung Sohwa’s eyes shifted slightly at the easy way he spoke her name.

“She is a long-time companion. We were raised and trained together.”

“A companion…”

“Indeed. I feared I would never encounter her again, but fortune favored us. It happened shortly after I went back to Sohung. Black Wolf appeared out of nowhere and…”

As Sima Geon recounted the events, the tension in Neung Sohwa’s face began to soften. However, as she heard about the hardships So Surin had endured, her expression turned to one of indignation.

“…And so I spent more than a year tracking that villain Yinjeokso. I eventually gave up the hunt and was returning home when I decided to pay the elder a visit. That was when I discovered you were here with the Tang Family. I was beyond shocked.”

“Could you have been as startled as I was? When the duel ended and I saw you standing there, I was breathless—and so incredibly happy.”

Sima Geon couldn’t help but smile at her confession.

“So, who is your next opponent after Elder Poison Ghost? The path must already be set.”

“Yes. Usually, I deliver the notification myself, but there are times I must rely on others. This is one of those times.”

“Who is the target?”

“A warrior known as the Soaring Dragon Sword Emperor, Baek Muhyeon.”

“That is quite a formidable-sounding title.”

Sima Geon made a small joke.

“Do not tease. He is genuinely powerful. He holds the second rank on the Martial Record.”

“And the first rank is held by the Sword Queen.”

“Please, stop.”

Neung Sohwa gave him a mock glare, her voice rising slightly before she let out a weary sigh.

“You cannot imagine the pressure each of these duels places upon me.”

“You are right, I can only guess. But there is one thing I am certain of: given your talent, you can overcome anyone. Believe in yourself a little more and try not to be so hard on yourself.”

Sima Geon’s voice was steady and filled with a sincere confidence in her.

Neung Sohwa’s eyes wavered for a moment.

She had been showered with praise and encouragement by many, but none of it had given her as much strength as his simple words.

“Thank you.”

Sima Geon found himself staring at her radiant smile, his heart suddenly pounding in his chest. He had always known she was lovely, but this sensation was entirely unfamiliar.

“When do you intend to depart from the Tang Family?”

He pulled himself back to the present at her question.

“I have no firm plans. When do you leave?”

“I shall stay for one more day.”

“With so many of your people wounded, is that not a bit hasty?”

“It cannot be helped. He has likely received the challenge by now. It would be improper to keep him waiting.”

“And where is this Soaring Dragon Sword Emperor located?”

Sima Geon’s voice took on a slightly sharper edge.

“At the Living Immortal Medical House. It is not his permanent home, but I am told he is currently residing there.”

“Did you just say the Living Immortal Medical House?”

A wide, knowing grin broke across Sima Geon’s face as he asked for confirmation.