Chương 607: Crumbling Cage (3)

'Time is distorted.'

I immediately sense that something is wrong.

Time outside feels slow, while time inside seems to be passing quickly.

'I see. Bong Myeong...'

I realize that Bong Myeong's will is making time flow faster here.

A thousand years in this place would amount to nothing more than a fleeting moment outside.

I can feel it.

To twist time itself, Bong Myeong has suffered an immense loss.

Pastststs!

A vision flashes before my eyes.

It is a silver-white light.

Within that light, a seven-colored bird is being swallowed by a massive sword light.

The bird in the vision turns back and looks at me.

—I shall melt away.

Bong Myeong, barely managing to keep just one wing outside the sword light, begins to dissolve within it, turning into a world.

—Until the moment my prophecy is fulfilled, I shall melt my personality, my life, into this world.

I can feel Their resolve to risk Their own life.

—Even if I must dissolve everything... I shall make it happen. Within this oppressed fate... I shall ensure that civilization evolves...! That shall be the key to true liberation!

And so, They melt away.

Into the silver-white radiance.

Into that cold and piercing sword light...

They become the prophecy itself!

A Supreme Deity's prophecy, enacted at the cost of Their own body, personality, and life!

With that prophecy set in motion, unless civilization advances, Bong Myeong can never be revived.

However...

If the prophecy is ever fulfilled, Bong Myeong will unconditionally resurrect through its power.

'I must ultimately revive Bong Myeong, the very being who sealed us away, with my own hands.'

A powerless chess piece caught in the grand game of the Supreme Deities.

That is all our fate amounts to in the end.

'Even after becoming a True Immortal, all I can do is claim the bare minimum of my rights. Being manipulated remains the same...'

I let out a brief bitter smile but quickly compose myself.

'I can't do anything about fate.'

Even Bong Myeong, who rose to the rank of Supreme Deity, struggles about to break free from fate's oppression.

No one in this Sumeru Three Heavens Great Thousand Worlds can escape fate.

But just because I cannot flee from fate does not mean I cannot decide my own life.

Whether to accept it quietly and die under fate's rule.

Or to struggle madly against it, leaving behind my mark before my death...

That much— I can choose for myself!

I silently observe the world where the Immortal Cultivation system has vanished.

The world remains unchanged, stuck at a medieval level.

Even after a hundred years, even after two hundred years, nothing changes.

They keep repeating the same actions, replaying the same history.

Whenever a natural disaster occurs, they are easily swept away, driven to the brink of extinction. There is no sign of civilization progressing.

Three hundred years pass.

Just then, Jjeoeoong!

Tukwaaaaaang!!!

"...!!"

I sense an immense explosion erupting in the outside world.

'Only a fleeting moment should have passed outside. What in the world is happening?'

"That... I understand. I will do as you say, Hyung-nim."

"Good. Right now, all the forces of Radiance Hall within the Flying Immortal Alliance are merely observing Seo Eun-hyun, just as Maek Jin instructed. But those who were never originally part of Radiance Hall are merely watching the situation... The moment they find an opportunity, they will throw themselves headfirst at Seo Eun-hyun's Filling the Heavens Governing View once more!"

Jeon Myeong-hoon looks down at his hand.

"My responsibility is heavy."

"There is no one here without a heavy burden. You... will create the 'opportunity'."

"Yes. Understood."

"Then, go head in. The deeper you go, the more spacetime seems to be distorted... Inside, it might have already been several days. Centuries might have passed inside Seo Eun-hyun's Filling the Heavens Governing View."

"Haha, that's..."

At that moment, as Jeon Myeong-hoon and Kim Young-hoon are talking— Shururuk!

Splitting through dimensions, a silver-white light appears between them.

It is a woman holding a sword, her entire body wrapped in bandages, wearing a silver mianguan and a silver dragon robe.

"Thank you."

"...!!"

"...!!"

At the woman's appearance, Kim Young-hoon and Jeon Myeong-hoon freeze in place.

"Thanks to you... I was able to pinpoint the location. You are... yes. You are Enders."

The silver-white woman.

She, the Transformation form of the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord, glances at Kim Young-hoon and Jeon Myeong-hoon.

"Lead the way, Enders. Where is Seo Eun-hyun now?"

Kim Young-hoon quickly exchanges glances with Jeon Myeong-hoon.

Kwarururung!

Without hesitation, Jeon Myeong-hoon bursts forward at lightning speed towards Kim Yeon's fragment world.

Towards him, the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord extends a hand.

"A useless effort..."

From her hand, a silver-white light extends, forming a single sword light that nearly chases after Jeon Myeong-hoon's heels.

Just then, Jjeoeoeong!

A golden saber radiance intercepts the silver-white sword light.

It is Kim Young-hoon.

"My apologies, but it seems I must be the Immortal's opponent."

"Hm... Judging by the color of your fate, you must be this era's Golden Body Heavenly King designate. You've learned quite a few tricks, but step aside. It's pointless."

Pukwak!

Her words prove true. Even though the sword light has not touched him, the divine blood formed of lightning spiritual energy spills from Jeon Myeong-hoon's body as he flees into the distance.

"I am the Fifth Seat of the Radiance Eight Immortals, the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord. I am the owner of light and the executor of fate."

The Sword Spear Heavenly Lord gazes at Kim Young-hoon with cold, stern eyes.

"Mere tricks will never defy the fate standing at the peak of the Sumeru Three Heavens Great Thousand Worlds. Look. You may have blocked my sword, but you failed to stop the prophecy, and thus, the wound has been inflicted all the same. I will say it again. Step aside. You will be torn apart and perish."

"... I certainly couldn't stop the prophecy."

Kim Young-hoon grins and takes his stance.

"But I did block the Immortal's sword. And no matter what, Myeong-hoon managed to escape inside."

He feels an overwhelming pressure.

The pressure emanating from the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord is unlike anything he felt from the True Immortals, cultivators, or True Persons he had faced before.

It feels as though he is standing before True Martial Great Emperor Hyeon Mu herself.

His opponent is a sharp sword.

A silver-white sword that cuts and shreds all phenomena, the incarnation of war and violence itself.

Perhaps, that sword may even surpass Seo Eun-hyun.

'An unrivaled, peerless swordsman.'

"For martial artists, being able to cross blades is enough. What more could we possibly need!?"

"..."

The Sword Spear Heavenly Lord looks at Kim Young-hoon for a moment before raising the sword in her hand.

"I have pitied you Enders all this time... but for at least this moment, I envy you. A weapon you can wield as your heart desires—how does it feel in your hands?"

"I will show you now."

"... Good."

Tadatt!

Paatt!

A strange space that exists between the two-dimensional and the three-dimensional, where countless landscape paintings are drawn.

Within the ancient landscape, a silver-white swordsman and a golden saber wielder collide.

Gold and silver intertwine, unleashing a storm of swords and sabers.

Jjeoeoong!

Tukwaaaaaang!!!

A massive explosion erupts, and years pass.

I simply continue to unfold Filling the Heavens Governing View, worrying about the outside world.

Just then, Kwarururung!

"...!"

I spring to my feet.

"What the...!?"

The mist of Filling the Heavens Governing View has been pierced!

Though the mist fills back in an instant, in that fleeting moment, 'someone' slips inside.

It is a True Immortal.

Immortal Art, Sun Shooting!

Tukwaang!

I hastily fire an arrow that extinguishes light, but the True Immortal merely brushes off the attack, barely fazed.

'What...? It's not a True Immortal from Radiance Hall!?'

[Step back at once! Do you truly wish to witness the failure of civilization's evolution!?] I grit my teeth and shout.

[As there's now a little leeway in time, I can explain. I can explain in detail why I acted so arbitrarily. So at least hear my explanation!] But the response I receive from the True Immortal is unexpected.

[I already know. I understand why you did this... I even understand your intention.] [What...?] [However, I just want to tell you that our way is not wrong either.] With those words, the True Immortal explodes on the spot.

"Wait!!!"

Kwagwagwagwang!

An Earth Upper Immortal, who had been on the verge of becoming a Great Net Immortal, explodes and perishes.

At the same time, their life shatters into pieces, and fragments of their existence fall towards the 'Earth' I am recreating.

They melt into my Immortal Art world, where the Immortal Cultivation system has been blocked.

I widen my eyes at the sight.

It is the same as Bong Myeong.

Just as Bong Myeong melted Themself, offering Their life as the price to prophesize the evolution of civilization...

This True Immortal has done the same, melting into the world and using their life as the price for revision.

:: Living beings of this world, remember:: Kugugugugu!

The world has been revised.

:: Remember... that once in this world, there existed myths and Immortal Cultivation...:: That is it.

A mere revision that instills a yearning for myth and Immortal Cultivation, confirming that they once existed.

It seems trivial.

But an inexplicable ominous feeling creeps over me.

'That explosion...'

It bothers me so much for some reason.

It feels as though something has begun from that explosion.

I have the feeling that the True Immortal's suicidal attack is not an end, But the beginning.

Chwararararak!

I unfold Filling the Heavens Governing View with even greater force, yet the unease in the corner of my heart does not fade.

'I was confident I could block the True Immortals' attacks. No matter how much they launched an all-out assault, I was sure I could hold them back.'

But...

Even I have no way to stop these acts where they wager their very lives.

The counterattack of the True Immortals has begun.

Kwaaang!

Another True Immortal breaches my Filling the Heavens Governing View.

:: I prophesize... With my personality and entire life as the offering...:: Kugugugugu!

As the True Immortal falls towards the 'Recreated Earth' where living beings reside like a falling star, their rank diminishes.

That True Immortal, along with their prophecy, becomes a mere [fate].

Having lost their personality and becoming fate, they settle into the body of a newborn child.

I watch over the child.

The child is born as the prince of a kingdom.

I observe the prince's fate.

He has the fate of a prophet who enlightens countless beings and provides a starting point to escape the system of my Filling the Heavens Governing View.

To block that fate, I disguise myself as a seer and approach the king of the nation to deliver a proclamation.

"The prince, if left alone, will one day become a great prophet, bestowing teachings upon the masses instead of ruling from the throne. However, if he firmly holds onto the throne, he will become a ruler who governs the world."

Upon hearing this, the king, desiring to preserve his royal lineage, locks the prince away in a garden like a gilded cage and introduces him to countless pleasures.

He allows the prince to know nothing but countless beauties, mountain and sea delicacies, dazzling jewels, and all things beautiful.

Watching the prince, I feel relieved.

At this rate, the prince seems to be safely deviating from the fate set by the True Immortal.

But one day— The prince, by accident, catches a glimpse beyond the garden the king has built.

The moment I realize this, I know I have lost.

The world outside the garden's walls.

Having seen a world writhing with all kinds of hunger and suffering, the prince is thrown into turmoil and steps out of the garden created by the king.

Breaking free from the cage with his own hands, he begins to wander the world in search of truth.

Before long, as he travels in pursuit of truth, more and more people start to follow him.

I make every effort to bring him back to the palace, but he remains steadfast, undeterred by countless temptations and failures.

And those who revere him begin to call him a prophet.

In the end, he overcomes all my interference and succeeds in becoming a prophet.

"... It's you."

At the final moment of his life, the prophet, recognizing my presence that has spread across the world, smiles faintly.

"... Yes. It's me."

Looking at him, I begin introducing myself despite no one compelling me to do so.

"I sought to advance the civilization of this world. To do so, I temporarily severed the system of Immortal Cultivation that once flowed through this land. For the world to progress, transcendental power is unnecessary. That is why I stood in your way, who tried to restore such powers."

Only after finishing my explanation do I realize that I had made excuses in front of this prophet out of shame.

But the prophet, as if unconcerned, hears my murmurs clearly despite the hundreds of millions of li between us, and responds.

"Did I seem like I was trying to restore transcendental power?"

"... Was that not the case?"

"The power I restored... is not something like that."

"... What?"

"I simply wandered in search of not power, but truth. I merely wished to reveal the truth to this world... to the people of this world. To spread that truth wide and bring benefit to many."

"..."

From a distant planet hundreds of millions of li away, I gaze at the prophet and ask,

"What is the truth you speak of?"

The prophet smiles.

It is the smile of one at the end of their life.

"The heart... that people naturally pass on... to one another. That is all. Some may call it compassion. Others may call it love. And yet others may call it hope. But one thing is certain. This heart, without a doubt... is a heart that brings warmth to the people. That is all there is to it."

After speaking these words, the prophet closes his eyes.

Watching him, I am overwhelmed by an indescribable emotion.

And then, thousands of years pass.

Kwaaaang!

The True Immortals outside continue to stake their lives, breaking through my Filling the Heavens Governing View.

They revise the history of my Filling the Heavens Governing View, or with their prophecies and Immortal Arts, create 'prophets'.

I see a True Immortal melt and dwell as fate within a child born in a manger.

That child, too, is bestowed the fate to become a great prophet.

As the child grows, he comes to understand many things.

Even without being taught, he discerns the traces of past prophets in the actions of people and comprehends their true intent.

The child grows, gathers people, takes them as disciples, and leads them.

He spreads the truths he has realized, the will of the prophets he has come to understand, to countless others.

The king of the land where the child walks finds him displeasing and orders his capture.

In the end, the child is condemned for spreading heretical wisdom and is nailed upside down to a pillar to die.

Yet even as he dies, he harbors no resentment, only embracing everyone.

In his dying state, he perceives my will that fills the world and looks towards me.

"You are the king of this world."

"... Not exactly, but close enough."

He looks at me and smiles warmly.

"O king of the world, why do you suffer so?"

"... Because there is too much resting on my shoulders."

"Is that so...? How truly... pitiful."

The moment I hear those words, I laugh.

"Well... isn't the pitiful one you, who is nailed to a pillar and dying? Your life ends here. There is no next chance. You have no certainty that another life awaits you. And yet... why are you so at peace?"

"Hahaha... O king who bears the world. All my life, I have taught my disciples who follow me that what belongs to a prophet should be returned to the prophet, and what belongs to a king should be returned to the king."

"..."

"Everything received must be returned. My disciples have always returned to you the grace they received from you. Then, O king who bears the world. What is it that causes you suffering... and why do you not return its source?"

"...!"

My eyes widen.

He is nothing more than a mere mortal being.

A fragile creature that could never reach a genuine undying existence that is me.

And yet, this being has pierced straight through my heart.

'... The source of my suffering...'

It is, ultimately, because there were those who loved me.

Throughout my life, I have received the grace of so many, the love of so many.

Had I never received any love...

Had this world treated me with only cold indifference...

I would have become a Devil King who devours the world and bring it suffering.

But because that is not the case, I now struggle to repay this world with the greatest grace I can offer.

"To give grace to life is good... but do not struggle to give away... even that which you must keep for yourself. Return only what must be returned to life. Excess in all things is never good, O king..."

With those final words, the prophet nailed to the pillar closes his eyes.

I ponder his words for a long time.

"Am I... trying to express the grace I received from the world by putting in excessive effort to the point of suffering too much?'

The words that speak of returning suffering, that excess is never good...

In the end, are telling me not to overexert myself in repaying grace.

I continue to mull over those words.

Time continues to flow.

Outside, something seems to be happening. The explosions echoing from beyond gradually grow stronger.

And the frequency of True Immortals entering increases.

The True Immortals, one by one, melt themselves into the world, embedding themselves as fate or energy into lowly humans in order to change the world.

They do not limit themselves to prophets alone.

Sometimes, they embed into mathematicians, sometimes architects, sometimes kings, and at times, even tyrants or warlords.

They all greatly change the world.

Even though the system of Immortal Cultivation is severed, they are restoring some kind of [power] to this world.

And little by little, I begin to understand what that [power] is.

'The heart... that people naturally pass on to another...'

I remember the words of the first prophet.

A heart passed from one person to another.

A heart endlessly carried forward.

A heart that gradually dispels the darkness of the world.

The name of that heart is love.

'... I see now.'

They continue to spread that heart throughout the world, bringing change.

Writing, language, and culture are slowly changing.

For now, it remains at a medieval level.

But the continuous 'changes' brought by the True Immortals are subtly altering the world.

As the sacrifices of the True Immortals accumulate, accumulate, and accumulate...

The world gradually begins to change its form At the same time, I slowly begin to see beyond Filling the Heavens Governing View.

The more I perceive the [hearts] spreading across this world, the more transparent Filling the Heavens Governing View becomes.

'Outside...'

Outside Filling the Heavens Governing View, time moves slowly.

Countless True Immortals are gathered around Jeon Myeong-hoon, discussing something.

And Kim Yeon's will is showing them something that is occurring far beyond them.

A clash of silver and gold.

'That is...!'

It is the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord.

The Sword Spear Heavenly Lord and Kim Young-hoon are colliding.

Even in the slowed-down world outside, their movements are terrifyingly swift as they exchange dozens of blows.

And through Kim Yeon's power, all of them can see the 'intent' flowing around the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord.

'That is...'

The silver-white light of the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord is cloaked in a link pink intent.

And that intent is directed toward the center of this world.

Towards me.

'... Ah...'

Love.

The pinnacle of Radiance Hall, the ruler who dominates the world.

Everyone is now witnessing that the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord possesses love.

Only now do I understand why the True Immortals have been throwing themselves into this place.

The True Immortals of Radiance Hall still seem deeply devoted to the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord, though they appear confused.

But the True Immortals unaffiliated with Radiance Hall are beyond mere confusion.

They are in utter shock, as if everything they had believed in until now has been shattered.

For them, it is incomprehensible that the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord, who should rule the world with absolute fairness and justice, could have a 'heart' for an individual like me.

And those who share that sentiment are gathered around Jeon Myeong-hoon.

Jeon Myeong-hoon is saying something to them.

'So that's it, Jeon Myeong-hoon...'

I realize what kind of sermon he is delivering to the True Immortals.

He has taken out Jin So-hae's hand and gently strokes it as he preaches about the heart.

Kim Young-hoon is blocking the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord.

Kim Yeon is reflecting the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord's heart.

Jeon Myeong-hoon is preaching about the heart.

As I watch them illuminate and teach the True Immortals about the heart...

For some reason, the words of Tae Yeol-jeon— That is, the words of the Heavenly Venerable of the Underworld—come to mind.

Their words that the Seven Brilliances Kings are Bodhisattvas who teach and preach the heart to the sentient beings of the world.

For some reason, I feel as if I am looking at a scene from a taenghwa.

As if three Bodhisattvas are delivering a sermon to sentient beings.

Watching the Sword Spear Heavenly Lord, the pinnacle of the world, engulfed in love and attempting to enter this place, It seems they are coming to some realization.

That the power of the 'heart', with love at its forefront, might just be the most essential power for attaining liberation in this world.

But the number of True Immortals receiving Jeon Myeong-hoon's sermon is gradually decreasing.

This is because while those listening to Jeon Myeong-hoon's teachings continue to hurl themselves into my Filling the Heavens Governing View, reducing their numbers, those from Radiance Hall are being well managed by Maek Jin.

And finally, at some point— Only one True Immortal remains, receiving Jeon Myeong-hoon's teachings.

"... Jeon Myeong-hoon."

I recognize who that True Immortal is.

It is Golden Shaking Bird, who has regained her senses at some point within Kim Yeon's fragment world.

Golden Shaking Bird, who is the only one left behind after countless True Immortals casted themselves away, is saying something to Jeon Myeong-hoon.

I cannot tell what they are discussing.

But Golden Shaking Bird is shedding tears.

Then, she rises from her seat and begins to approach my Filling the Heavens Governing View.

"Jeon Myeong-hoon!"

Startled at the sight, I shout.

"What are you doing!?"

Golden Shaking Bird is the Great Desolate Path.

At the same time, she is one of Jeon Myeong-hoon's devoted followers.

How could he send someone like Golden Shaking Bird into this world without hesitation!?

A world where neither success nor failure is certain!

This could very well be Golden Shaking Bird's end!

Golden Shaking Bird stakes her life and breaks through Filling the Heavens Governing View.

She gradually melts into this world.

I sense the Great Desolate Path within her being released into the world.

Along with it, the will of Bong Myeong, that had been within the Great Desolate Path, further thickens the power of the heart that fills this world.

Golden Shaking Bird settles within a newborn infant.

This time, it is not merely a matter of dissolving her body, but a reincarnation.

She has chosen to abandon all her memories and authority to be born as the child of a mortal being.

If her prophecy proves true, she may be reborn as a True Immortal, but it is a reckless gamble.

"Golden Shaking Bird..."

Watching her, I am taken aback.

But as I watch her, I realize something.

'I see...'

I feel like I understand what she heard from Jeon Myeong-hoon.

'She came to know. That Jeon Myeong-hoon... isn't Yang Su-jin...'

Born into this world as a baby girl, Golden Shaking Bird grows while learning its language and culture.

As she gradually accumulates knowledge, she desires to 'create' something.

I can tell that what she creates will be the decisive proof of civilization's evolution.

The power of the heart filling the interior of this Filling the Heavens Governing View has already reached its critical point.

No matter what she creates, she will undoubtedly produce something decisive for the evolution of civilization.

"... Jeon Myeong-hoon."

I glance at her once before turning my gaze back to the sky.

Beyond that sky, the battle between gold and silver finally seems to be reaching its conclusion.

"Young-hoon Hyung-nim."

A silver-white sword light cleaves through the golden saber radiance.

Kim Young-hoon is split in half and sent flying.

And in an instant, the silver-white light enters the fragment world.

Jeon Myeong-hoon, Maek Jin, and countless True Immortals face the silver-white light.

At the same time, Kim Yeon's entire fragment world is split apart.

Even the will of Kim Yeon that had seized control of the entire world fades away.

"Kim Yeon."

Jeon Myeong-hoon is instantly shattered into hundreds of fragments.

Too fast for him to even react.

Maek Jin and the True Immortals of Radiance Hall head towards the silver-white light.

It looks as if they are trying to ask something.

And then— Chwararak!

The silver-white sword light flashes, cutting down Maek Jin and the True Immortals alike.

Maek Jin's Immortal Body is flung towards this place.

Puhwak!

I glance back once at Golden Shaking Bird before soaring towards Maek Jin.

Taatt!

I catch hold of Maek Jin, whose upper body has been severed, and emerge from Filling the Heavens Governing View, lifting my gaze to the being staring down at me with indifference.

A god of silver and white, wrapped in bandages and wearing a silver mask.

As Kim Yeon's world crumbles, reality distorts, and the laws of this world begin to bind me.

Gradually, I revert to being a feeble spirit, capable of nothing but wielding the power of soap.

"I have come to meet you, Seo Eun-hyun."

The Silver-White God.

The Sword Spear Heavenly Lord speaks to me.

"You were engaging in something meaningless. You must have been trying to escape from Bong Myeong's world."

"..."

"I will release you. Come forth and bow before me. If you do so, this Immortal, I, shall..."

"Yang Ji-hwang."

"..."

The Sword Spear Heavenly Lord falls silent.

Then, she looks down at me.

Our eyes meet.

"... What did you just say?"

"I said Yang Ji-hwang. Ji-hwang-ah."

"... You, do you even know what that means?"

"It's your original name, isn't it?"

"... Ha, haha..."

Yang Ji-hwang begins to laugh.

"Hahaha... Ahahahahahaha!!"

Gradually, the world begins to transform into an antique landscape painting.

It takes on a form that appears to exist somewhere between two-dimensional and three-dimensional space.

In this bizarre world, the only thing maintaining its original form is the recreated Earth within my Filling the Heavens Governing View.

"So that's it. I wondered what kind of magic you had cast on me... but you used the authority of an Ender to uncover my original name. That is what caused my heart to waver."

Yang Ji-hwang mutters as if relieved.

"Well, it doesn't matter. Originally, I intended to take you with me, use you as this Immortal's plaything, and uncover the secrets of your authority. But now that I understand the principle behind the strange influence you have on my heart, there is no need for that. I will simply kill you here. For killing the existence that knows my name is the simplest solution."

A cold light flickers in her eyes.

"Die here and spit out the light you stole from this Immortal's domain."

"... You are crying, Ji-hwang-ah."

"... What?"

"You are crying... because you have to kill me."

"What are you saying?"

Yang Ji-hwang's voice trembles as if shaken.

"Crying? What nonsense you speak of. This Immortal has never shed a single tear. It is the same right now. My eyes..."

"Someone once told me. That emotions are nothing more than the trembling of the lungs. That since the lungs correspond to metal, emotions themselves are of the metal attribute."

"You're speaking nonsense."

"You're right. I think it's nonsense as well. It was just that guy's misunderstanding. But if you think about it differently... the lungs are actually the most suitable organ for expressing emotions, so it's not strange that someone might be mistaken about it."

"..."

"The vibrations inside the lungs have a significant influence in conveying emotion. So, Yang Ji-hwang, the fact that your voice is trembling, the fact that your lungs are trembling, means your heart is trembling too."

I look at the tip of her sword.

"If the lungs are the most specialized organ for expressing the heart, then the same must apply for metal. Isn't your sword, forged of iron, trembling as well? Sword Spear Heavenly Lord, Yang Ji-hwang!"