Chapter 296: Zhuge Jihee (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 296: Zhuge Jihee (1)
The forest shadows deepened into an abyssal black as the last slivers of moonlight vanished behind thickening clouds, the air heavy with the promise of a storm.
Crr…
The demons held their breath.
Though they were creatures of base instinct and insatiable hunger, even they could recognize a presence they dared not approach.
Slip.
A rustle of cloth broke the silence.
Woong-
The sword in her hand began to hum, a clear sign of Sword Resonance.
As the clouds momentarily parted, moonlight filtered through the trees, illuminating two figures.
One was a beauty with hair as white as snow and eyes of piercing blue.
The other was a woman of equal splendor, with golden hair and golden eyes.
The white-haired Demonic Sword raised her blade, blue Lightning Qi erupting from its edge in a violent surge. Her expression was a placid lake, but the thick scent of blood that clung to her betrayed the predator beneath.
“What is it?”
Her voice was cold and firm, laced with a killing intent so palpable it forced the surrounding demons to shrink further into the shadows. A gust of wind carried the stench of carnage—the numerous corpses of Shaolin and Wudang disciples lay scattered, each step landing in a widening pool of blood. Though it had been an ambush, the Demonic Sword had slaughtered them all without a single scratch.
Dignity.
That was the first impression the Demonic Sword gave.
The golden-haired woman flinched at the question. Despite her hesitation, the Demonic Sword remained poised to strike at a moment’s notice. A cold drop of sweat traced a path down the Demonic Sword’s back—a rare sensation of being threatened, a testament to the other woman’s strength.
As the clouds once again swallowed the moon, the woman began to glow with a radiant golden aura that mirrored her hair.
She was the Celestial Sword, descendant of the Sword Emperor, the last hope of the Central Plains: Wi Seol-Ah.
She had appeared just as the ambush ended, as if she had been waiting for this very moment.
The Demonic Sword eagerly channeled more Lightning Qi; she had always wanted to cross swords with the Celestial Sword at least once.
Rumble…
The rising Qi and killing intent from the Demonic Sword stilled the very wind. Yet, the Celestial Sword calmly deflected the pressure and spoke lightly, her gaze unwavering.
“I have something to say.”
“…You… to me?”
The Demonic Sword’s Lightning Qi faltered at the unexpected words. Her only language had ever been combat.
“What is it?”
Still, because the Celestial Sword was someone he cared about, the Demonic Sword listened. After a long pause, the Celestial Sword responded.
“…The Murim Alliance Army will come for you tomorrow.”
The statement was so absurd it made the Demonic Sword doubt her own ears. For these words to come from the last hope of the Central Plains was unthinkable.
“…What are you playing at?”
Her guard heightened. While the Demonic Sword had a reputation for seeming clueless, that was never the case. This action defied all logic.
Zaaap-
Her sword, Thunder Fang, crackled with Lightning Qi, as if voicing her anger.
Rumble.
A bolt of electricity shot toward the Celestial Sword.
Swoosh-!
The golden aura surrounding the Celestial Sword blocked the attack, and the clash of energies vibrated through the air.
“I’m not joking.”
“…If you’re not… then why?”
Perplexed, the Demonic Sword demanded an answer, but the Celestial Sword remained silent.
“…The Heavenly Venerable will be part of the ambush.”
“And?”
“Even with the Black Flame by your side, you will not escape easily.”
The Celestial Sword’s words hinted at a massive operation involving multiple elites and even the Heavenly Venerable. The Demonic Sword began to understand the reason for this visit.
“Celestial Sword.”
“Yes…”
“Are you worried about the Black Flame?”
“…”
The Celestial Sword flinched.
It was laughable. The last hope of the Central Plains was a hypocrite, leaking crucial information to the Demonic Sword while standing amidst the graves of her former allies.
Did the Central Plains know of the Celestial Sword’s actions?
They likely did not.
The Demonic Sword had no intention of telling him, either. It wouldn’t change anything.
“‘He’ will go, even if I tell him.”
Even if he knew it was a path to certain death, he would still walk it.
Zap.
The Demonic Sword withdrew the Qi from Thunder Fang, her killing intent dissipating.
“It is the Leader’s command.”
The Heavenly Demon’s word was absolute. Yet, she knew it wasn’t just the command driving him, though she couldn’t pinpoint the exact reason.
The Demonic Sword did not understand—nor did she wish to—what relationship the Celestial Sword had with him. The only goals in her life were her freedom and the perfection of her sword. No, perhaps she was beginning to understand a little, but it was too late to ponder, much less express it.
The Celestial Sword wore a strange expression upon hearing the answer.
What was the Celestial Sword feeling? Even now, the Demonic Sword found it difficult to empathize.
“…He’ll die if he goes ther-”
“He will not die.”
“…Pardon?”
The Demonic Sword had never been given a clear path. Whether to live as a hero or walk a different road, the choice was never hers. It was disappointing. She had thought the Celestial Sword would be similar, but it seemed the Celestial Sword was just human after all. Though she herself was a human who had willingly become a Demonic Human.
So, what was this feeling now?
The Demonic Sword would die without ever realizing she was jealous of the Celestial Sword.
“He will not die.”
“…Demonic Sword.”
“I will not allow it.”
She spoke while brushing her hair aside.
What did her own words mean?
The Demonic Sword had to mull over the statement despite it coming from her own mouth. The Celestial Sword also froze, her face an incomprehensible mask. Seeing the tremor in the Celestial Sword’s pupils, the Demonic Sword felt she could easily end her life right then and there.
Should she?
She thought about raising Thunder Fang but decided against it. She wasn’t in the mood. Looking closer, she noticed that while the Celestial Sword’ golden Qi was pure and brilliant, her eyes were spiritless, as if she could collapse at any moment. Even the golden aura seemed unstable upon closer inspection.
The Demonic Sword found it ironic that such an eminent martial artist was unable to fully commit herself to the path. She pondered again how easy it would be to cut the Celestial Sword down.
[If I do.]
[Would he hate me for it?]
Her hand stilled at the sudden thought.
When had it started?
When did she begin having such notions?
The thoughts made her uneasy. Suddenly realizing something, she spoke promptly.
“It seems… that I do not like you.”
That must be it. The Demonic Sword could think of no other reason. As the Celestial Sword stood there unresponsive, the Demonic Sword realized the last hope of the Central Plains was far from perfect. How had someone so powerful become afflicted with Inner Demons? It was baffling.
“You could go to him yourself if you are so concerned.”
The Celestial Sword was capable of delivering the message herself. That is what the Demonic Sword would have done in her place. All one needed to do was cut down everything in the path.
Seeing the Celestial Sword do nothing but bite her lip in reply, the Demonic Sword commented.
“Coward.”
“…!”
With that final word, the Demonic Sword turned and walked away, having lost all interest. She remembered him saying he wouldn’t forgive her if she was late again. She decided not to tell him about this conversation. The reason was simple, as she had said: she just didn’t want to. It was her way of complaining.
After the Demonic Sword left, the Celestial Sword looked up at the sky alone. The moonlight was long gone, obscured by inky-black clouds. And with it…
“Coward.”
The word felt like a stab to her heart.
“…Coward, huh…?”
The Demonic Sword was right.
I am a coward.
She had failed to choose a path and had chosen to hide instead. How could she not be a coward? It was exhausting; she felt she could barely breathe. Even so, she had to move forward.
For how long? And how far? Why? She asked herself out of habit, but—as always—no one was there to answer.
“Captain…!”
After standing with closed eyes for a time, a voice called out. The Celestial Sword opened her eyes to see members of the Murim Alliance approaching.
“Uggh…!”
One of them blocked his nose. Even from a distance, the smell of blood was overwhelming.
“Captain… where is the Demonic Sword…?”
“By the time I arrived, she had already escaped.”
“Oh no! We were too late, even though you moved so quickly. How unfortunate. Good work, Captain.”
The Celestial Sword nodded, and the others accepted her words without doubt.
“…The bodies of our allies are scattered here. Let us bring them back.”
“Your wish is our command. Move!”
“Understood!”
As they bustled about, the Celestial Sword forced her stiff body to move. She could not afford to show exhaustion; she was the hero of her people, the Celestial Sword.
A few days later, the Demonic Sword kept her word. She sacrificed herself, and he lived.
—…
“…Sis?”
Wi Seol-Ah’s voice pulled her from her thoughts. As always, this was not a memory she was fond of.
How much time did she have left?
She knew she had to do everything possible in her limited time.
“I’ve told you before…”
“Huh?”
“…The Moonlight Dance is a Sword Art that contains the moon, but you cannot chase the moon.”
“Yes.”
Wi Seol-Ah nodded at the sudden comment, sensing an urgency in the woman’s voice.
“I hope you grasp the meaning of that as soon as you can.”
“…Yes.”
To not chase the moon with the Moonlight Dance—what did it mean? It was strange that the woman did not state the answer directly. According to her, Wi Seol-Ah had to discover the answer herself to achieve her desire.
My desire.
Wi Seol-Ah thought to herself. What did she desire?
From the very start, her desire had never changed: to protect him. That was why she had learned the sword. He had always been her desire, and she would never let that desire remain unfulfilled.
No matter the cost.
A young man lay exhausted on the ground, the vast sky filling his vision after a ferocious battle.
“Wow… Fucking hell.”
I was so tired my body refused to obey. Even my fingertips barely responded.
Sigh.
Ignoring my aching body, I let out a sigh. Beyond the physical exhaustion, I felt utterly spiritless.
“He’s seriously disgustingly strong.”
It felt like I was seeing stars.
“Ughh…”
I tried to lift myself, but it wasn’t easy. I’d been hit in more than just one or two places.
That damned old man.
I’d landed a solid blow to his stomach, but Bi Eejin seemed perfectly fine.
“What did he say? ‘Not bad’? Is he a pervert?”
Moreover, he had shrugged off the damage like it was nothing. The real problem came afterward.
I couldn’t even leave a scratch on him.
At first, he seemed surprised by my increased speed, but after a few exchanges, he deflected all my attacks as if he had already grown accustomed to my Blood Qi-enhanced body. I wasn’t sure I could have won even uninjured, and fighting while wounded only made the battle more painful.
…Even so, for there to be that much of a difference.
Bi Eejin.
Every move he made showed he had seen through my entire sequence of attacks, not just individual moves. I had experienced this in my past life, but facing him again now only highlighted the sheer gap in our skills. My defeat was clear.
“…He took them, huh.”
He even took the bands I had. I couldn’t maintain Blood Qi for long, as it aggravated my injuries. The fight ended as soon as my Qi ran out, leaving me flat on my back. How long had it been since my last defeat? This was even the first time I’d been beaten by someone of the younger generation.
…Though he isn’t really one.
Even if Bi Eejin was the Dishonored Venerable, he had undergone Eternal Youth, which should have given me a significant advantage. Of course, I did have my injury as an excuse.
But even at my peak, would I have won?
I didn’t know what would have happened if I’d used all my Qi, but I wouldn’t have been satisfied regardless. This defeat was frustrating, but I got over it quickly; my past life was filled with losses. Though it is a bit sad to think of it that way.
“You are very strange. Unlike your cultivation talent, your close combat capability is rather poor.”
That’s what Bi Eejin said right before he left with my bands.
My close combat capability is quite poor, huh?
Lately, I’d been feeling the same. I’d grown accustomed to relying on my flames and overwhelming Qi, letting my close-quarters skills stagnate.
“I won the bet. As promised, we’ll meet again later.”
“…”
Of all times, I was reminded of the Dishonored Venerable’s words. He was trying to give me a hint, but it was seriously unnecessary.
I can’t let that happen.
Learning a whole new fighting style was too difficult when I didn’t even have enough time to master what I already possessed.
It would be better to go visit Father.
It would be better to learn from Father, who had reached the peak of the martial art I was training. Though I couldn’t imagine him actually teaching me anything…
“Let me just… rest a little…”
Then I’ll go get the bands back.
Just as I had that thought, I lifted my head and spoke.
“…Ugh, how inconvenient.”
I sensed a presence approaching. My exhaustion had dulled my senses, making it hard to notice sooner. What a hassle. This was a bad time.
They are close.
Extremely close.
If I had to guess where they were…
Right… next to me?
Swoosh!
A hand reached toward my body, aiming for my remaining band.
…But.
Tap.
“Why are you so slow?”
“Ugh…!”
I successfully caught the ambusher’s hand, their movement sluggish despite my condition. If they could get caught by me in this state, they were incredibly slow. It made me wonder how they had even made it this far in the exam. I wanted to keep resting, but the situation forced me to sit up. I endured the scream of my protesting muscles as my opponent struggled weakly in my grasp.
“Who are you?”
“I-I’m sorry…!”
The opponent had long black hair that covered his face. His panic, as if he hadn’t expected to be caught, was almost pitiful. He’s a guy, but why is he so soft—
“Hmm?”
I saw his teary, shaky eyes through the curtain of hair. Confirming what I saw, I grabbed his neck and overpowered him.
“Kegh…! Wa-”
“You.”
I released his wrist and lifted the hair obscuring his face, revealing what was hidden underneath.
“Ha?”
An incredulous laugh escaped me the moment I saw his face. I had wondered how I would find him, and here this bastard had come to me on his own.
Hmm…
Could I even call him a bastard? In my past life…
How did he end up like this?
I could have sworn he had the appearance of a woman.