This is commonly referred to as a “Unique Barrier” by old folks and “Domain Expansion” by modern folks.
A strong martial artist drawing a certain shape in their mind is called Imaginary Concept (心象), and naturally, I could only see this kind of scenery in my mind.
– Do Hyeon, do you like snow?
One day, as I was watching the first snow fall outside the school window, Yoo Seolhwa was the one who spoke to me.
Originally, I disliked snow, but with her innocent expression, I couldn’t help but answer that I did. I felt like saying no would make her cry.
And then,
– I like it too…!
At that moment, Seolhwa showed me her pure, fragile smile. Her cheeks were so beautifully tinted red, like a plum blossom blooming in the snow, that it was utterly adorable.
From that day, I started to love the winter season.
The cold falling snow, the puff of white breath when exhaling, and even the sweet smell of the cream-filled fish-shaped cakes that Seolhwa loved.
‘I was surprised when I first learned that I could use Verdandi’s ability, The Eye that Sees the Truth, in this way.’
I merely eavesdropped on Verdandi talking with Bi Wol. She shouldn’t have known anything about the Heavenly Demon Divine Sect, yet she spoke vividly as if she’d seen Bi Wol’s past firsthand.
It was an application of the way I defeated the mind demon. If it was possible to enter someone’s imaginary world, it was also possible to draw them into my own imagery.
“Puhaha, Master! How on earth did you make the floor into the ocean?! This is beyond mere hallucination!”
Verdandi was floundering in the ocean. It seemed she still didn’t know how to control herself in the imaginary world.
“I asked you what you wield your sword for.”
I began to recite, aiming to impart my teachings to Verdandi. It was a theme I valued in the original, The Hero Must Die.
If the justice wielded by the hero is twisted, can it still be considered good?
I believed that the hero is not good by mere existence but is defined by their actions.
“I don’t know!”
Verdandi replied with a bright smile that she didn’t know. She was like a blank manuscript, having lost even the reason why she should act as a hero.
According to the original script, she would have performed justice to avenge her parents who abandoned her or the villagers.
“Didn’t you solve all the problems for us, Master?!”
The current Verdandi seemed to lack that kind of venom. If pure could be called innocent, then it was even scarier for her to be colored by someone else.
As people live, they become influenced by others. This manifests in emotions like admiration, love, jealousy, and envy, changing them.
“I cannot stay by your side forever.”
“E-eh?”
“I’m living a life with a time limit. Just like a flame dwindles, I feel my life slowly diminishing.”
I revealed the truth to Verdandi. She might have watched me with worried eyes when I coughed up blood or bled from my eyes, nose, and mouth.
“…So, shouldn’t you figure out why you wield your sword yourself?”
Hearing it straight from the person’s mouth felt different. When I was told about Seolhwa’s death by her parents, it felt as if the sky collapsed.
“I won’t accept that! Can’t I just go win that Tournisia or whatever it was?! If not me, then at least my senior…!”
“The opponent is someone like me, equipped with prophetic abilities. They will likely send out the most troublesome opponent you’d face if I weren’t here.”
Shaking my head, I shifted the conversation back to Seolhwa. For her, she was both a mother and a co-creator.
I thought about how happy Seolhwa would be if she saw these kids, yet I figured she might be in deep trouble with the external world.
‘If not, she wouldn’t have called it the “original story”…’
If not, it could have been a ploy to lure me in using Seolhwa. After all, she was someone who had already died.
Thinking negatively about every possibility was a habit formed to prepare for the misfortune that had plagued me since childhood.
“To be honest, I have no regrets in my short life. I’ve accomplished almost everything I could.”
I spoke with as calm an expression as possible.
I had dealt with Bi Wol’s grim past, prevented Verdandi from going astray, and delayed Azazel’s twisted crush; all that remained was to cheer on these kids’ paths.
“…Master.”
“What is it, Verdandi?”
Soon, Verdandi’s head hung low. Thud, thud, tears streaming down as she stopped swimming. Watching her, something seemed to overlap in my vision.
“If that’s the case, doesn’t it mean no one is wielding a sword for you right now…!”
It was exactly the expression Seolhwa would have if she were worried about me. Verdandi, who had once looked innocent, twisted her face and screamed in tears.
“Actually, you have Bi Wol, who is your disciple, right?”
Bi Wol was like my first child. Thanks to her, I met Seolhwa and developed our relationship.
“If it’s that girl, she’d do anything for me.”
“No, just having my senior isn’t enough.”
At that moment, Verdandi’s words gained strength. Her body, which had been sinking, rose up, and she stood on the surface of the water.
“No matter what means it takes! You need to live a long life, Master!”
Her face appeared as if the worries that had plagued her for so long had vanished. Being so young, she probably didn’t even grasp the feeling of farewell.
“Verdandi….”
People generally remember the moments more than the places. My brother, who was always like a hero to me, went through that.
He saved me when I was bullied by other kids for being poor and was looked at with disapproval by adults.
His death completely altered my values.
“Master, you saved me from walking down a wrong path. I don’t understand why you’re suddenly talking about dying!”
Verdandi shouted, wiping her tears. Her red eyes and trembling hands looked pitiful.
“People must always prepare for farewells.”
I steeled my heart. If I were to die, there was still no one to trust these kids with.
“The Six Harmonies Sword Technique of the Volcano Sect consists of basic moves made by observing the movements of the plum blossom. It includes six techniques: Cutting, Stabbing, Blocking, Flowing, Dodging, and Breaking.”
Originally, it was a unique martial art of the Volcano Sect, but in my novel, it had spread and become a popular third-rate martial art.
I created a sword made of ice while observing Verdandi. Her breathing stabilized more than before, and the trembling in her sword had disappeared.
Perhaps having grown accustomed to walking on water, she now approached me step by step, narrowing the distance.
“Like the petals of a plum blossom falling from the sky, cut gently from above, this is the First Style: Plum Blossom Sky Cut (梅花天斬).”
Kaaang─!
A gentle curve traced from above as the sword struck downward. It was an attack that made one feel as if fluttering flower petals had settled on Verdandi’s sword.
“Ku, Kugh…!”
Verdandi tried to block with her sword and her other hand, but soon sank under the weight of the sword and fell.
“Get up and do the same! You have to start by cutting all the falling flower petals.”
Using my imagination, I planted a plum tree around Verdandi and continued speaking while letting the petals fall.
“Since the plum tree can take root and survive even on rocks, this is the Second Style: Plum Blossom Earth Push (梅花地推).”
Kang! Kaaang─!
I created a massive rock right behind her, thrust my sword into it, and made numerous holes and cracks.
Just like persistent droplets of water can create holes in a rock, even a third-rate martial art can be elevated to first-rate with careful polishing.
In this world, simply having a lot of internal energy doesn’t mean you’ll gain a higher level. It’s important to develop through enlightenment and martial arts practices.
“What kind of power…?”
Pakaang─! Kugugeugeugeu─!
The cracked rock slowly began to chip away and scatter in all directions. Verdandi wore a dumbfounded expression as she watched the terrain crumble like powder.
“Believe it or not, I’m a warrior with a nickname.”
Moreover, this place was my imaginary world. There was no need to worry about physical limits; I could create anything for training.
“Is… Is this how it’s done?”
“Incorrect. The upper posture needs to raise the arms a bit more, and for the stabbing, the feet need to come further forward.”
Ka-gah-gah-gah─!
I rotated my hips and wrists as if swirling in the wind, performing a dazzling spin with both sword and body. Verdandi, unable to penetrate my guard, stared at me in disbelief.
“This is the Third Style: Plum Blossom Whirl (梅花人轉). It mimics the appearance of plum blossom petals swirling in the wind. And….”
Kaaang─!
I spoke just as Verdandi attempted to strike down at me; I deflected her sword lightly. The move of brushing away the blade after their swords clashed imitated the way plum blossom petals danced in the breeze.
“This is the Fourth Style: Plum Blossom Wind Strike (梅花風擊).”
I deftly dodged the next flurry of Verdandi’s attacks with a simple nod and retreated a step to avoid the rhythm again.
“The Fifth Style: Plum Blossom Falling Rain (梅花落雨) mimics evading as the plum blossoms fall in the pouring rain.”
Finally, for the final, remaining move,
“This is the sword you’ll have to imitate at the end.”
The stance was the Plum Blossom Body Break (梅花身破), a crushing sword capable of embedding flowers’ shapes into rocks.
*
Master, why are you trying to leave us so suddenly…!
Verdandi imagined a future in her heart, envisioning herself as the hero who catches the demon king and receives a pat from her Master, Bing Yeon.
The thought of him not being in that future caused heart-wrenching pain, even just imagining it.
“I will learn the sword and defeat all those who stand in your way…!”
Her heart ached so much.
She couldn’t bear to accept reality.
Why does farewell arrive faster than happiness?
In her lifetime, she had never met anyone who solely gazed upon her.
To her, her current Master, Bing Yeon, had become more precious than anything else.
“That is what I consider justice…!”
The hard (强) breaking through soft feelings (心).
For him, Verdandi reached the brink of mastering the intricacies of the Six Harmonies Sword Technique.
