Chapter 70
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Reunion
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Below the peak realm, there were no records of this person's novice days—suddenly emerging in the martial world as a transcendent expert.
Upon first appearing in Hubei Province, they stormed straight into the Zhuge Clan, smashing through the main gate and defeating the clan head in combat.
Not content with that, they immediately charged into Wudang Mountain, effortlessly defeating the current sect leader—the renowned prodigy of the martial world, the Five Elements Sword Immortal.
Even that wasn't enough; they clashed with the previous generation's master who had guarded that position even before the war, Wise Sword Master Qinghe Zhenren, and snapped the Wudang symbol, the Pine Gate Ancient Sword.
A single warrior had single-handedly shattered one of the Five Great Clans and a cornerstone of the Nine Great Sects—a unprecedented, heaven-shaking feat.
And all this had happened in less than a month—an unbelievable fact.
The entire martial world was left in shock.
"...I knew they had the makings of someone great, but I didn't expect it to happen this quickly."
And here, the glorious empire's Third Imperial Princess, Zhu Yeonhwa, voiced a similar sentiment.
Three years ago, she had been thirteen; now, just three years later, she was surely sixteen.
"N-No, no, no, no, no... it could be a case of the same name, right...?"
Moon Shadow, clad in tight black attire and guarding behind the princess, was denying reality with her wildly trembling pupils.
No matter how overwhelmingly crushed she had been back then, she had trained for three years and grown, dreaming of her own revenge.
Though she wanted to deny it, So-hyang's advice had been immensely helpful, and Moon Shadow's achievements were nothing short of remarkable.
But now, the one she wanted revenge on had suddenly become a transcendent expert...?
"...Shadow, you know as well as I do that there's no chance of that."
The chances of another top female expert using the name So-hyang were slim.
After the investigation by Hanlim Academy, the moniker White Lotus Sword had been publicized across the entire martial world.
Details on the characteristics of her martial arts, information on her signature techniques, a detailed sketch of her appearance and personality, and even an outline of her activities.
Having lost her family to Prince of Affection Ju Yeong-in—the notorious villain now stripped of his princely title and imperial status—she had vanished for three years before suddenly reappearing and pledging herself to the Martial Alliance.
Three years after that, she had emerged in Hubei Province, leading to her current exploits.
It was detailed enough to border on invasion of privacy, but it was only natural for eyes to focus on experts of a certain caliber.
Beings who could shatter armies and unleash rivers of blood on their own—how could anyone not pay attention to their movements?
"Goodness, I have no idea what kind of person I've taken as a friend."
At just thirteen, she had recognized So-hyang's power surpassing a peak late-stage guard, admired her insight and character, and formed a bond.
The reason she had given her a token allowing limited authority akin to her own within the empire's lands was the expectation of her friend's future growth.
It was a kind of investment, though not without some excess under the pretext of friendship...
"This is the ultimate bottom buy—no better bargain out there. It's skyrocketing without end."
And even now, it wasn't at its peak; it was a top-tier blue-chip stock that would keep rising for decades.
"...Though her personality seems a bit, well, unique."
She had guessed as much from the eccentric behavior three years ago and the insights from Dragon Eye.
Her young friend So-hyang appeared to be someone with a highly distinctive temperament.
Rather than formally requesting a spar, she smashed the main gate outright and charged straight at the Zhuge clan head, as if procedures were for dogs.
There were no entry records or sightings at the mountain gates or side paths, yet she was suddenly clashing with the sect elders and grandmasters—a radical approach.
Fortunately, neither faction expressed resentment or hostility, but under normal circumstances, it could have sparked deep grudges.
"She's consistently something else."
All her actions converged on a single intent.
The ascent of martial prowess.
No grudges or personal feelings involved—just eccentric acts for the pure exchange of martial arts, evident to anyone.
She had guessed from the all-night lectures on martial theory while grabbing Moon Shadow, but So-hyang was even more passionate about martial arts than expected.
"Ugh, ughhh..."
Moon Shadow shuddered as if struck by a chill; Zhu Yeonhwa found her occasional state both pitiable and amusing.
"No, no way... No way she's transcendent. What, is she a war god or something? Worse than one... No...!"
Moon Shadow muttered in full denial, as if broken.
It showed just how deeply So-hyang's impact lingered.
Overwhelmed by someone not just younger but a child; beaten so badly that even the torture resistance drilled into her as an imperial guard crumbled.
It was pain that stripped her body bare and shook her soul—worse than marrow-scraping agony.
"...Hic."
Just recalling it made her body tremble and breath ragged—a nightmarish memory.
"No, she's not here...!"
She shook her head vigorously, desperately shaking off the fear and cowering infiltrating her mind.
Zhu Yeonhwa watched Moon Shadow with a profoundly complex expression.
A bizarre gaze mixing pity, amusement, bafflement, and more.
"...Y-Your Highness? Why are you looking at me like—"
And then, without warning, the poke of a finger against Moon Shadow's back.
"That person's right here, you know?"
A playful whisper from breath-close distance.
The horrific voice that haunted her dreams every few nights over the past three years, filling her head.
"Hiiiiiiaaaak—!?"
Despite her face paling and shrill scream, her response was instant.
She spun around, drawing her sword fluidly and thrusting with a sharp trajectory.
"Quick reflexes, good judgment! You've grown quite a bit, haven't you? Impressive."
But it was caught between slender fingers, extended without any intermediate motion.
"Moon Shadow, long time no see!"
"Uh, ugh, why, ughhh..."
With So-hyang's cheerful greeting, Moon Shadow finally lost the power of speech.
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Three years ago, So-hyang and Zhu Yeonhwa had coincidentally met at the Wind and Cloud Inn in Yunju County on the outskirts of Hubei.
Now, they reunited in the same place.
"Long time no see, Your Highness the Imperial Princess."
"Indeed, it's been a while, my friend."
The princess was out on a secret excursion, treating it like a vacation, much like before.
After a satisfying hot spring soak, she was sipping warmed liquor on the inn's top floor and puffing leisurely on her pipe when the pleasant reunion arrived.
"I planned to visit after the Zhuge Clan, but something came up with Wudang, so I was a bit late."
Still, she was the first friend So-hyang had made in the Central Plains world; not seeing her for three years, plus using the Imperial Dragon Token at the Zhuge Clan to withdraw funds...
Morally, she owed her a face-to-face thank you.
"You're quite the enigma. You didn't use the token for three years, then suddenly withdraw a fortune and hand it to the clan?"
"Ahem, you told me to use it freely where needed."
"Hahaha, I'm not blaming you."
Zhu Yeonhwa looked at So-hyang with a peculiar glint in her eyes.
No matter that it was a token for unlimited funds, using it so casually and liberally...
Considering her background and growth, So-hyang should have felt burdened even with sudden wealth, struggling to find uses for it.
Yet strangely, she wielded it without hesitation, as if experienced many times before.
"Truly, you are a wondrous friend."
Her unique insight unchanged, Zhu Yeonhwa arrived at a truth quite close to reality.
In her past life, So-hyang had become a superhuman entity by midlife, drawing love calls from the world's tycoons.
Receiving blank checks in envelopes was routine; company shares or Swiss accounts with billions in laundered funds were transferred too.
Thus, she had no qualms using vast sums, far from the commoner's burden Zhu Yeonhwa imagined.
-----
"As before, you seem to like this inn a lot. Here again?"
"Few places this far from the capital's imperial palace offer such peace of mind."
The innkeeper's demeanor was excellent, and the food, drink, and facilities were top-tier in the Central Plains.
Rather, the Wind Path Beggar back then, claiming it as mission expenses despite cheaper rooms, had been out of his mind.
"Even if you planned a cheaper room, what were you thinking?"
It bordered on embezzlement. He feared the ridiculously strong martial artist before him but not the Martial Alliance's budget?
"Hmm, he was quite polite to me..."
"He's always been known for his free-spirited nature. You're just the irregular."
He slithered with ease before superiors, rules, and laws, but even he couldn't before a natural disaster-like monster.
"Anyway, that's why I visit periodically."
Every six months or so, staying a week for vacation—it was an annual ritual for Zhu Yeonhwa.
But So-hyang smiled meaningfully, urging a different answer from the nonchalant princess.
"Is there no other reason?"
"...Ho, you've noticed?"
A high-ranking imperial scion moving predictably along fixed routes periodically.
—A perfect setup for an ambush, no?
No sooner had the words ended than pale incense smoke seeped through door cracks and windows, filling the room from all directions.
Of course, So-hyang showed no disturbance, inhaling the smoke with curious interest.
"Wait, what are you—!"
Moon Shadow cried out in alarm to hold her breath, but So-hyang closed her eyes, savoring the scent and effect.
It infiltrated the central nervous system via respiration, clouding the mind by suppressing functions.
"...Ho, an anesthetic?"
Of course, with overwhelming mental fortitude and bodily control, she suppressed the neural effects; her poison resistance was extraordinarily high to begin with.
No effect whatsoever.
"—Sleeping incense."
A technique of the Incense Smoke School, in its basic application.
Originally medicinal for insomnia or pain relief, this variant filling the room was a vicious twist.
Ignoring health and aftereffects, focused purely on circulation—a poison-like art.
Highly refined, it could knock out most martial artists like the dead.
However.
Zhu Yeonhwa gripped her pipe, circulated her energy, and drew all the gas under her control, compressing it into a small bead.
"These fools, using Incense Smoke School arts before me... Poor choice."
Thanks to the dragon bloodline's innate spiritual intuition, Zhu Yeonhwa was a top-tier sorceress from birth.
Especially her main Incense Smoke School arts—nothing short of a Star Emissary-level master could affect her.
Of course, the attackers had reason; imperial scions' arts and mysteries were top secret, unknowable to assailants.
In the end, the unnamed attackers' ploy failed from the start.
But they showed no hesitation, immediately following up.
A single arrow whistled sharply from far beyond the window.
"—Your Highness! Get down!"
Moon Shadow reacted first, swatting the incoming arrow with her signature speed.
"—Kuh!?"
Nigh spear-sized, with immense force—the recoil shattered her balance momentarily.
The attackers seized the opening.
Aiming to eliminate the princess's guard, arrows with similar power rained from various arcs.
"Need a hand?"
"No need—!"
So-hyang's subtle whisper; Moon Shadow gritted her teeth and snapped back.
Three years ago, she might have panicked into a pincushion, but she had progressed, if not to So-hyang's level.
Floating Dragon Sword, Three Absolutes Refinement.
Without recovering balance, she spun three full rotations, weaving a sword veil around the radius to deflect the arrows.
"Wow, nicely blocked. Your skills have definitely improved."
So-hyang clapped brightly in genuine admiration.
But in such a siege, blocking a single volley meant little.
"Your Highness! Retreat first—"
"Nah, that's not it. Forgot the key to protecting VIPs I taught you?"
The location was poor: top floor of a towering inn in the bustling center.
Snipers from distant high points, unilateral bombardment from multiple angles.
Retreat and defense were inefficient here; counterattack was ideal.
"Who doesn't know that!? Who's protecting Her High—!"
So-hyang quietly pointed to herself.
"...Ah."
"The arrows come from various directions, but there's only one main archer capable of shots like that last one."
A mark of high realm, but crucially, singular.
So-hyang recited her divine sense readings aloud, then grabbed Moon Shadow by the nape and hoisted her up.
"...Wait, what are you—"
"I'll guard Her Highness, so go handle it."
"You lunatic, for real...!?"
Moon Shadow desperately denied the action flashing in her mind.
As if caring not, the lifted Moon Shadow was hurled outright.
"Off you go!"
"—Kyaaaaaah!!!"
Target: the archer's position.
With So-hyang's full strength, Moon Shadow shot like a cannonball in a straight line.
Zhu Yeonhwa momentarily lost words at the absurdity of the shrinking scream.
"...I-Is that allowed?"
"She won't die."
Suffering in youth is sought after; pain short of death would forge Moon Shadow stronger.
The kindness of one who had lived long—she might not like it now, but she'd thank her greatly later.
So-hyang nodded in satisfaction.