Chapter 25
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Meal
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So-hyang roughly tidied up the facilities she had set up to refine the sword and went to return the rented demon weapons to the Demon Seal Cave.
"They were useful. Thank you."
"Not at all. We rented them to you for a fee, didn't we?"
It was true that they had been lent out in exchange for expending accumulated merits, but demon weapons were forbidden items whose use was prohibited in the first place.
"Do you think I don't know that?"
Knowing that they had bent the rules and made an exception for her circumstances, So-hyang looked at Lee Se-min and smiled warmly.
"Ahem, anyway, didn't you say you were making a sword? Have you finished it...?"
Unable to get used to the way she treated him like a child no matter how many times it happened, Lee Se-min cleared his throat awkwardly and changed the subject.
"Shall I show you?"
As if she had been waiting for those words, So-hyang beamed and reached out toward empty air.
While refining materials infused with spirit energy, the finished product stood at the boundary between material and immaterial, mortal and mystical.
After an inspired attempt to weave every part into metal and the mad endeavor of tempering it with lightning—
The sword So-hyang had completed maintained a superimposed state, possessing both material form and spiritual qualities.
Thus, just as she stored spirit energy in her soul, she could store it inside her upper dantian, ignoring its weight.
And drawing it out was equally effortless.
"...Huh."
A sword of unfamiliar form, pure white in color, appeared, ignoring space itself.
It was not merely painted; one could tell it was the inherent color of the blade itself—its pristine white appearance.
And the naturally emanating pulse of auspicious and profound spirit energy.
"You succeeded."
Even a mortal could sense its extraordinary nature.
"Not just succeeded! A great success!"
A rare emphasis entered her usually gentle voice.
So-hyang was about to pour out tales of how she had seized the momentary inspiration and achieved beyond her plans—
"Hmm, this story might drag on."
Glancing out the window, she saw the sun high in the sky—perfect timing for lunch.
"You're probably hungry too, right? How about we eat and talk?"
Seeing her uncharacteristically sparkling eyes and eager desire to boast, even his gaunt face broke into a grin.
"Very well."
------
The place So-hyang dragged Lee Se-min to for a meal was her own house.
A home she had personally built on land purchased with public funds.
During her time in the mountains, she had discovered an unexpected fondness for architecture, crafting, and creation, so she did the same here.
Thanks to her superhuman strength, it required far less effort than before, and the resulting house was even finer.
"...This time, I wanted to treat you."
"Hey now, are you going to offer me food you barely even eat yourself?"
Three years ago, when So-hyang had claimed proficiency in cooking and offered to treat him, it hadn't been empty words.
After settling into the Murim Alliance, she frequently visited Lee Se-min to invite him for meals, and reluctant to refuse her goodwill, he often ended up eating what she prepared.
Truth be told, he hadn't expected much from her skills at first—prejudiced by the thought that a martial artist couldn't cook that well, compounded by his own picky palate.
His poor health and sensitive taste buds rejected oily dishes or anything slightly heavy on seasoning.
Thus, he often subsisted on rice pills, viewing meals merely as calorie sources.
"...It's delicious."
Yet So-hyang's cooking exceeded his imagination.
With a few visual observations and light probes, she had discerned his health and tastes, tailoring the food accordingly.
A seemingly neat table of Korean dishes, but actually filled with vegetable-only fare like temple cuisine.
Using beans, tofu, and various vegetables for rich nutrition, balanced seasoning, and subtle spices to maximize flavor.
"How is this even possible...?"
Being human, he naturally preferred tasty meals, so he sometimes pretended reluctance or quietly anticipated her invitations.
In the end, So-hyang had conquered his stomach.
Eating well was the foundation of health; over the past three years, her clever diet had infused life into his previously hollow, pale features.
"...That's why strange rumors started circulating."
The Demon Seal Cave Master frequently visited an unrelated woman's residence, and his complexion had improved dramatically.
Spring had come even to the madman obsessed with eradicating the Demon Lord—such lukewarm gazes.
Because of those rumors, Lee Se-min had tried keeping distance from So-hyang for a while—
...but the rice pills suddenly tasted like chewing dirt and sand, forcing him to visit her home.
The aversion was quite severe.
"Today it's scallion pancakes. Pairing them with makgeolli would be ideal, but I prepared sikhye instead—it won't be bad."
"...Scallion pancakes and sikhye."
Crispy yet chewy texture, sweet and pungent flavor from well-cooked scallions, umami from minimal oil and golden browning.
And the sikhye made from fermented rice, mildly sweet and refreshing to suit his tastes, carrying the aroma of grains.
"Gulp."
Lee Se-min swallowed involuntarily. His stomach was already in So-hyang's palm.
"Oh, you're here?"
Opening the door revealed the Alliance Leader inside, sipping liquor with sparkling blue eyes.
"The Alliance Leader is here too."
"Yes. Come in, Cave Master."
To Lee Se-min, it felt like feeding a picky child for health; to the Alliance Leader, it was treating a friend.
Thus, the two encountering each other at So-hyang's home wasn't rare.
What caught So-hyang's eye was the bottle the Alliance Leader held, drinking straight from it.
"Where did you get that?"
"Smelled the booze and wanted a taste. It's killer—did you brew it yourself?"
A crack appeared in So-hyang's gently smiling expression.
"Fine, it's sweet potato soju I brewed myself. But it hasn't fully matured, and you pull it out?"
"What, this taste is immature? I should put it back..."
"It's got your spit on it, you madman!"
So-hyang drew her soul-stored sword, concentrated its spirit energy, and unleashed a slash; the Alliance Leader chuckled and parried with sword fingers.
"A kid whose blood hasn't even dried on their head trying to drink?"
"Eeeeek!!"
"If it bugs you, break through to Transcendence. What can you even do?"
"Gyaack!"
Lee Se-min rubbed his forehead.
So-hyang usually wore a serene elderly smile, showing no emotional agitation.
"Why do you always clash with the Alliance Leader like this...?"
Whenever the two met, childish antics ensued, mismatched for their ages.
It proved their deep friendship, but watching was exhausting.
Lee Se-min squeezed his eyes shut and uttered the forbidden words to calm things.
"...So-hyang, I'm hungry."
"What, really!?"
Her anger vanished instantly; flushed with delight, So-hyang dashed to the kitchen.
-----
Mountains of pancakes and tteok, bowls of sikhye, various fruits and snacks.
Lee Se-min chewed blankly. Perfectly suited to his tastes, unbeatable flavors.
But the quantity was overwhelming.
"Tell me if it's not enough."
"...Yes."
He swallowed any retort and quietly shoved food down his throat.
At least it was tasty; otherwise, it'd feel like torture.
"Hehe, my arm's gonna fall off."
So-hyang beamed contentedly, as if watching filled her own stomach, then accepted the Alliance Leader's offered glass.
It was already opened. No choice but to drink.
Rich grain aroma laced with subtle sweet potato notes, fruity distillate scent.
But the finish was rough with a green tang—opened too early.
"Why, isn't this tasty too?"
"It is, but..."
Unable to spit on the grinning Alliance Leader's face, So-hyang sighed and sipped with snacks.
"What's the sword's name?"
Superior famed swords all bore names—some naturally dubbed, others innately named.
To the Alliance Leader, So-hyang's was clearly the latter.
A divine weapon with an innate true name.
"That's... tricky."
She recognized its innate name but didn't know what it was.
More precisely, a slot for the name existed, but it was blank.
The name's absence was the name, evidence the sword wasn't fully complete.
"Hmm? It can't be."
"I'm not entirely sure myself..."
The sword So-hyang forged was a superb divine weapon, yet followed processes akin to ritual vessels or dharma treasures.
Not mere partial fusion, but essential integration—the first of its kind in the jianghu's history.
Even its creator struggled to gauge all its potentials.
"Naming it arbitrarily feels like it would limit its possibilities."
For So-hyang, this was welcome. It meant her sword was unfinished, with clear paths for further growth.
She would find it. Reveal it. Bestow it.
Once she voiced its true name, the sword would surely evolve further.
As her own spirit energy incarnate, its growth was her own.
How could she not welcome it?
"For now, I'll call it the Spirit Sword."
Not a demon sword or ghost sword; nor merely famed or divine.
"Remarkable."
Even the Alliance Leader, witnessing a new branch of martial arts for the first time, simply listened attentively.
-----
"So, how strong do you think I am now?"
So-hyang clearly knew her cultivation level and realm but found it hard to gauge against Central Plains martial artists.
"Weaker than me."
He chuckled at her sharp glare, then pondered seriously.
"For starters, below Transcendence."
The transcendent realm where human limits shatter, and mind-images become worldly laws.
So-hyang hadn't reached that metaphysical domain.
"You can interfere with mind-images via intent, but that's more like a loophole."
Though she wielded intent beyond her realm, unless risking death by shredding her soul into frenzy, meaningfully harming experts was difficult.
"Counting from the bottom: starting at No-Move realm, and since you can form sword qi-like spirit energy, let's say you've passed Peak...
The Alliance Leader said little, but this was extraordinary.
Excluding her atypical body and skills, by Central Plains standards, So-hyang was mortal.
Skipping the foundational Entry, Third, Second, First-rate realms lightly—what martial art was this Sword Path Sect branch?
"Not quite Super-Peak since no Gang Qi, but you have ways to counter it."
The Spirit Sword inherently indestructible like demon weapons.
Gang Qi could shatter it, but coated in spirit energy and intent, it could withstand.
"...Roughly Super-Peak level?"
"Super-Peak, Super-Peak..."
So-hyang glanced at Lee Se-min, who chewed with a dying expression.
Honestly, a disappointing assessment.
Three years ago, with an immature body and only Blood Curse, she had nearly matched Super-Peak expert Lee Se-min.
And that while holding back to avoid killing—now, three exchanges to fell him wouldn't be exaggeration.
No matter how she thought, she had grown stronger than that.
"Ah, you seem to misunderstand something—he's on the weak side even among Super-Peak."
Lee Se-min had forcibly stacked his tower to the ceiling with his utterly mortal talent.
"Evil faction among evil factions, shoddy construction doesn't get worse than this."
Sacrificing lifespan and health for miraculous Super-Peak attainment.
Specialized against demons, he was the weakest among peers.
"Normal Super-Peak experts mix intent into Gang Qi for faint mind-image manifestation, but he can't."
Just brute force via vast inner power and Gang Qi— an empty shell otherwise.
Even in their prior bout, no profound techniques, just bullet hell barrages.
The Alliance Leader patted the gasping Lee Se-min's head, overflowing with food, and sighed.
"Far from that—he could drop dead any moment."
Though So-hyang's meals improved his health over three years, qi-blood balance was separate.
Forcing the realm strained rather than nurtured his body.
Reason a realm expert retained frail constitution.
"I tell him to rebuild foundations, rest—but he won't listen."
Neglecting body for duties, obsessively focused on Demon Lord eradication—a maniac.
Yet upholding righteousness, dutiful to others.
Only himself he saw as expendable.
Alliance Leader's interest in So-hyang stemmed from kinship and curiosity.
In Lee Se-min, pity, sympathy, frustration.
"I'm training nonstop. I'll reach Transcendence before my lifespan ends."
Such words he uttered. Alliance Leader thumped his chest in exasperation.
"No, you idiot! Think Transcendence is a joke? It's near impossible."
Literally impossible proposition—debatable if even a realm.
He lacked confidence in reattaining it himself—that was Alliance Leader's breakthrough.
Lee Se-min didn't mean it literally either.
"If I can't, I die."
Resolve to work till death. Speaking of life as if another's.
"That's not right."
So-hyang gazed worriedly at his vacant eyes.
"What's the point of aiming with failure and death in mind?"
Not gentle advice like care for health, cherish life.
"If resolved to die for a goal, make it true resolve—not this resignation."
Not treating life as rag; crucial was unyielding spirit desiring goal wholly amid mortal peril.
"Heed the Alliance Leader—tend your body."
So-hyang met his eyes with gleaming intensity.
"Or truly resolve to die."
If sacrificing life, do it spectacularly—mad advice.
Fitting an ascension-obsessed maniac.
"Are you insane?"
Watching Alliance Leader recoiled in disgust, but So-hyang stood proud.
Suitable counsel for Lee Se-min.
"...Yes."
Firm voice laden with will, eyes burning with fervor.
Not hollow hope-possessed gaze as before.
Eyes holding hope by his own volition.
Whether guiding him positively remained unknown.
"Good, you understand."
So-hyang nodded satisfied.
-----
Returning to the original topic.
The Alliance Leader's judgment of So-hyang's realm was accurate.
Even as founder of the new Sword Sect, she was a novice in martial arts.
Setting aside swordsmanship, mentality, intent—purely qi and technique handling placed her at Peak realm appropriately.
Factoring her exceptional physique suggested practical combat power at Super-Peak...
"Can't gauge how much this body has grown in three years, huh?"
But the Alliance Leader's assessment based on her physique three years prior.
So-hyang smiled faintly, raising her fist; the grip sucked in air, space vibrating.
"...Insane?"
Overwhelming physical force shattering common sense. Alliance Leader's eyes shook violently.