Chapter 11
Chapter 11
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Indestructible Diamond (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Namgung Serin left home? Suddenly?
Did it have something to do with the Demonic Cult's attack?
Honestly, I couldn't quite grasp the connection between the two right away.
If she was thinking of revenge, it made more sense to build up her strength first with the Namgung Family's support.
'Hm.'
...Something must've happened. Or maybe it's not even true.
I mulled it over briefly, then decided to let it slide. Just because I heard the news, was I supposed to track down Namgung Serin and tell her to go back to the Namgung Family? That would be the weird part.
The kids I'd helped were all such overflowing talents that after one crisis passed, their cultivation would skyrocket chapter by chapter.
Not only had I solved their problems, I'd even hooked them up with good gear. No need to worry any further.
That wouldn't align with my original plan anyway.
As Namgung Haejin said, if something really big happened, it'd come to my attention whether I liked it or not.
'At least now I get why the Namgung martial tournament got canceled.'
I shook it off and started crossing the mountains to leave Anhui Province. For some childish reason—old men come to mind when hiking—I was using the wrinkled elder preset from when I was with Namgung Serin.
Stepping barefoot on the dirt path made me feel healthier already.
Is that why they have those yellow earth roads?
I didn't usually like hiking, but with winter nearly over, there were no bugs, my body didn't tire, and only the crisp mountain air remained.
With time to spare, I took it slow.
Climbing while taking deep breaths.
When a nice view appeared, I practiced the swordsmanship Namgung Serin taught me, using the tree branch I'd been using as a staff.
It might look clumsy to a trained eye, but after swinging it diligently for days, the forms were coming together decently enough. My swordsmanship had reached the peak of incompetence, it seemed.
The route from the Namgung Family to the Emei Sect wound through rugged hills, canyons, and mountain paths.
Walking untouched trails like this was a first for me. The trees and bushes tangled like spiderwebs, forcing me to swing my staff every few steps.
I thought this might be a good chance to properly practice controlling my internal energy, but it didn't go as planned.
Whenever I tried to draw sword ki, sword ki burst out; same with sword gang. No real training possible. The energy moved exactly as I thought.
The expensive manuals I'd bought said fine control of internal energy was incredibly difficult.
I could form energy rings and float them in the air or pull distant branches to my hand without any real effort.
Did that mean I understood the principles behind it?
Not at all, which left me frustrated.
If there was some failure point, I could dig into it and study what went wrong—but my body already knew all the answers before I could even unfold the process.
After groaning over it for days, I decided one day to just focus on getting my swordplay straight.
That's when I set foot on some nameless mountain blanketed in blooming plum blossoms.
"Oh ho. This place..."
It felt vaguely familiar.
The fact that it stuck in my memory even after the reality patch meant there was some quest here in the game.
Roughly from Anhui through Henan to Shaanxi? Shaanxi meant Huashan Sect quest? Didn't they show up a bit later?
Hard to say.
Remembering every quest in a 50-gig behemoth of a game was near impossible. As I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to coax up those floating old memories...
—Kya aaaah!
A high-pitched scream echoed from afar. My eyes snapped open.
"Ah. Right, this was the spot."
The Emei Sect affinity quest.
In this one, players chose whether to save an Emei disciple fighting greenwood bandits.
Skipping it didn't affect the main story, but saving her earned favor with the Emei head. Joining the killing got you the disciple's martial arts and items.
Since I had business with Emei, I'd pick saving her—but even in disguise, outfits too revealing weren't my thing.
Best to use item cheese for this.
I rummaged in my pouch and pulled out a suitable item.
A longsword, black with a red aura, radiating eerie yin energy.
This should solve the problem nicely.
Sticky blood mixed with pale chunks dripped from the axe blade. The person he'd been talking to just moments ago had closed their eyes forever.
The hulking brute shook his axe once, splattering the dead man's blood across his face amid a gust of wind. Her legs gave out with a thud. Seo Miryeo, an inner disciple of the Emei Sect's main branch, crumpled to the ground.
"Kya aaaah!"
An unexpected ambush. Her first brush with human death. Crimson blood. Her mind went blank on sight. Even staying conscious was a struggle.
The bandits tossed the corpses aside anywhere and cackled at Seo Miryeo's scream. It was all too familiar to them.
"What was a fine young lady like you doing coming to these mountains? You knew bandits like us crawl all over them, right?"
"...P-please... spare me."
"Aw, what're you saying? How could the dead rest easy if we let you go?"
Their casual joking amid the horror was utterly terrifying.
Seo Miryeo's hands trembled uncontrollably.
She'd gone to the Pearl Language Clan seeking help for Senior Sister Seo Yul-hye's illness on the way back.
They didn't use it much now, but they practiced corpse manipulation arts tied closely to the mind—maybe they'd help a little...
"Hic... sob... please spare me..."
I should've never gone.
No help after the long trip there, and now bandits on the way back, on the verge of death.
She'd always been extremely timid. Never one to step forward first.
But Seo Yul-hye was her one and only friend.
'She's the only one who ever laughed at my jokes...'
That's why, for the first time in her nineteen years, she'd raised her hand first—and it became her death sentence.
The axe-wielding brute stepped toward Seo Miryeo as she burst into bitter tears of injustice and regret.
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Each heavy step shook the earth under his massive weight.
He was using energy-infused stamping steps to intimidate his foe.
Ignoring it all—or perhaps resolved to wail freely before death—Seo Miryeo now sobbed openly, pouring out every grievance.
"If I'd known it'd end like this, I should've at least tried dating! The other senior sisters sneak around with guys, so why not me?!"
"Shut it. I'd love to have some fun with a cutie like you... but timing's off."
The axe rose slowly, like a guillotine blade.
Seo Miryeo, curled like a mouse, shuddered violently and squeezed her eyes shut.
'Am I... really going to die... like this...?'
The bandit declared her fate flatly.
"Time to die."
At last, the axe peaked high and plummeted toward Seo Miryeo at top speed—
Claaang!
The clash of metal. Sparks flew, startling her into opening her eyes. The brute's axe was dented, as if struck. A dark red sword lay on the ground nearby.
The bandits reacted instantly. True pros at killing, they charged her weapons drawn the moment a variable appeared.
Too far to flee. Just close enough to grab the sword.
"What are you waiting for?"
Then, a low footstep echoed from behind. A kindly elder's voice roused her.
"If you've got a sword, swing it."
At the same instant, Seo Miryeo snatched the hilt desperately.
Swoosh.
A smooth semicircular arc, and three bandits' heads soared skyward.
.
.
.
After that, her memory cut out completely.
When Seo Miryeo opened her eyes again, she saw bandits slaughtered in gruesome states, her own body soaked in blood, and the sword spotless—as if it had never killed.
She choked back a scream lest other bandits hear and hurled the sword to the ground.
It was utterly repulsive and horrific.
She could hardly believe she'd wielded such a thing as an Emei disciple.
And that voice. The elder who'd given it her must be some demonic cult monster.
No other reason to carry a blade this sinister.
The thought of using something from him—even briefly—made her want to vomit.
"......"
A moment later, Seo Miryeo stealthily tied the sword tightly to her waist on the opposite side of her own blade.
As she set off, she muttered an excuse no one would hear.
"I'll... get stronger too..."
"Perfect. A flawless plan."
Impromptu, but solidly designed. I left with a light heart.
The Seo Miryeo I remembered was kind enough to trek from Emei Mountain all the way to the Pearl Language Clan for her senior sister. Once her mind cleared, she'd definitely destroy or hide the sword I gave her. No doubt. Especially as an Emei disciple walking the Buddhist path—not some other sect.
That would erase both the rampage memories and the sword itself, eliminating all risks.
Plus, she was a one-off quest character with no further relevance. Truly perfect from every angle.
"Handing out opportunities like this really levels me up."
Experience really is key. Marveling at my own growth, I pressed on toward Emei Mountain.