Chapter 542: Sword Demon
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 542: Sword Demon
The Gu Clan, the self-proclaimed guardians of Shanxi.
Behind their sprawling estate lay a mountain.
Whoosh…
A sudden wind stirred there.
It swept through like a spring breeze, making the flowers tremble as it coiled gently around the blossom-covered slopes.
Fwoooosh!
With every caress of the wind, petals took flight, dancing through the air. It seemed tranquil, yet there was a definite, underlying power within the gale. The wind surged past the forest, rushing toward the summit.
Following it to its end revealed a field of flowers in full bloom. Strangely, the wind wasn't blowing in a single direction; it was swirling violently around a central point.
In the middle of the field, the wind wrapped around a figure as if to embrace them.
A woman stood at the eye of the storm.
She had hair of spun gold that seemed to radiance even in broad daylight, and her skin was so pale it looked translucent. The bridge of her nose was sharp, and her light-colored lips were as delicate as the petals surrounding her. Her appearance was as if the very essence of "beauty" had been distilled into a single human form.
The woman, looking otherworldly, stood with her eyes closed, feeling the rhythm of the wind.
“…Hooo…”
With a quiet exhale, the wind stirred further. Its speed, which had been quickening, settled into a constant, heavy rhythm. Sensing this, the woman finally moved her hands. She held nothing, yet her fingers were curled as if gripping a hilt.
Swoosh.
Her arm rose slowly. Then, just as she was about to swing her hand through the empty air…
Flinch.
“…!”
The woman’s brow furrowed slightly.
Fwoooosh! Bang!
The swirling wind vanished with a harsh, discordant sound. In an instant, a heavy silence fell over the clearing. The woman turned and opened her eyes. Her golden pupils shimmered as she let out a shallow sigh.
“Ha…”
The sound was heavy with disappointment. She had failed once again.
“It seems it did not go as you wished.”
At the sudden voice, the golden-haired woman, Wi Seol-Ah, turned her head. An old man stood there with his hands clasped behind his back. He wore a neatly tailored uniform, his hair tied back tidily. His sharp eyes held striking blue pupils. From his well-built physique and the sword at his waist, one could easily tell he was a master martial artist.
Seeing him, Wi Seol-Ah showed no surprise, offering a graceful bow instead.
“I greet the Heavenly Venerable.”
The old man was none other than the Heavenly Venerable, one of the Three Venerables and the man known as the "Heaven of the Namgung Clan." He gestured dismissively at her bow.
“I apologize for interrupting.”
“Not at all. I was just about to stop.”
The Heavenly Venerable smiled faintly. “It is not easy, is it?”
“...”
“No, it wouldn't be. That is only natural.” He took a step closer to her. “But do not be hasty. To have grasped even a hint of it at your age is a truly remarkable feat.”
“…It is all thanks to your teachings, Elder.”
“Flattering words, but that is not so. I merely gave you a small piece of advice. Grasping it was entirely your own strength.”
“...”
Wi Seol-Ah offered a faint smile and bowed her head slightly. “Thank you.”
“Not at all. Ah, I almost forgot.” The Heavenly Venerable remembered his errand. “The reason I came to find you so suddenly is that the Lord of the Gu Clan was looking for you.”
“…!”
Wi Seol-Ah’s eyes widened. “I will go down at once.”
“Very well. You’ve worked hard today.”
“I will see you again, Elder.”
After bowing respectfully, Wi Seol-Ah leaped lightly into the air and vanished from the spot. Watching her depart, the Heavenly Venerable stroked his beard thoughtfully.
“…Hmm.”
He was recalling the wind Wi Seol-Ah had just been manifesting. It was fast, yet it possessed immense weight. It wasn't a natural wind, but one stirred solely by her own power. Moreover, it was a wind created without the use of internal energy.
That was why the Heavenly Venerable was struggling to swallow his surprise.
“That young child, already…”
Was she already trying to reach the realm of the Mind’s Eye?
The Heavenly Venerable was in awe. He had only given her a few pointers, yet with just that small push, the girl was already forging a sword within her mind.
Perhaps that was why a strange emotion began to fill his heart—a dark feeling he wanted to ignore.
Just then, a voice rang out.
“Tempting, isn’t she?”
“...”
The Heavenly Venerable let out a quiet breath. When he turned, he saw someone sitting on a nearby rock. It was a young man with black hair, dressed in a dark uniform.
“It is not like that,” the Heavenly Venerable replied.
“Anyone can see the desire in your eyes. Why pretend otherwise?”
The young man—the Dishonored Venerable, another of the Three Venerables—took a sip of liquor and continued.
“I understand the urge to pick up a priceless gem you see rolling on the ground, but control yourself, Senior. That child is not in your domain.”
With just a few words of advice, she was constructing a domain. And within it, she had found a clue to the Mind Sword.
At the mere age of twenty.
The Heavenly Venerable had only found that clue well after he had passed forty. To see her find it so young… as a fellow swordsman, he couldn't help but feel a mix of jealousy and possessiveness.
The Heavenly Venerable gave a bitter smile. “…I know. Do not worry. I am well aware that I am not in a position to be so greedy.”
As the Heavenly Venerable spoke in a somewhat choked voice, the Dishonored Venerable frowned.
“God, I just can’t get used to this. You’re ruining the taste of my drink.”
It was no fun when the man admitted it so easily. To think that rude, insufferable old man could change so much. Even after several years, the Dishonored Venerable still couldn't get used to it.
“Tsk, I wonder what on earth the Lord of the Gu Clan did to you, Senior.”
“I have nothing but gratitude for the Lord of the Gu Clan.”
“Ha.”
As if disgusted by the Heavenly Venerable’s gentle tone, the Dishonored Venerable tossed the liquor bottle aside. He was done drinking.
“Senior, are you sure you haven’t gone senile? I’m asking because I’m genuinely worried.”
“Does it seem that way? If this is the result of senility, then I would rather stay this way.”
“…No, if it weren’t for that…”
The Heavenly Venerable would never have tried to teach the descendant of the Sword Venerable how to use a sword.
The Dishonored Venerable swallowed the words. It seemed pointless to say them to the current version of the man. Instead, he pivoted.
“If you’re going to be so charitable, wouldn’t it be better to show some of it to your own kids?”
The man who had lived and breathed for the Namgung Clan had finally come to his senses, only to pay his own family no attention at all.
In response, the Heavenly Venerable looked at him pointedly. “That is not something you should be saying to me, is it?”
“...”
The Dishonored Venerable’s mouth snapped shut. He was right. The Dishonored Venerable himself had zero interest in his own bloodline, the Bi Clan, so he was in no position to criticize.
The Heavenly Venerable’s smile remained. “At least I have no intention of taking a child from another clan as my disciple.”
“Tsk.”
The Dishonored Venerable clicked his tongue. The jab was clear: Who are you to talk, after taking someone else’s bloodline as your disciple?
“You’re still good with your words, Senior.”
“Haha.”
While the Heavenly Venerable laughed, the Dishonored Venerable pulled a letter from his robes and tossed it over. Catching it lightly, the Heavenly Venerable looked at him, his gaze questioning.
“A servant boy brought it this morning. It seems the Sword of Wudang, that friend of yours, is planning something.”
Rustle.
The Heavenly Venerable unfolded the letter. The first thing he saw was the seal of the Murim Alliance.
And the sentence written below it:
[The Heavenly Dragon Martial Arts Tournament will be held.]
“...”
The Heavenly Venerable’s smile vanished. “The Sword Immortal… that child…?”
“Even if his intentions are trivial, it looks like it could be fun, don’t you think? It’s been a while since there was something worth watching. And while we’re at it…” A sharp smile spread across the Dishonored Venerable’s face. “I’m thinking of sending that bastard, too.”
“…!”
The Heavenly Venerable stared at him, shocked. “Bijuu, you don't mean...”
“Though he’s the type to go even if I tell him not to.”
The Dishonored Venerable laughed as if the idea was truly amusing, while the Heavenly Venerable’s face clouded with a flurry of thoughts.
“Will it be alright?”
“What will?”
“That child… I mean, is it really okay to send him out now?”
For some reason, his voice was filled with worry. To be precise, it wasn't worry for the disciple, but for the world itself.
Is it okay to unleash that monster upon the world? Have you no pity for the common people?
Understanding the sentiment, the Dishonored Venerable looked offended. “Why are you treating my disciple like a plague, Senior?”
“…Hm.”
“Besides, he’s a bastard who never listened to me in the first place. You think he won’t go just because I tell him not to?”
Grip.
The Dishonored Venerable suddenly clenched his fist. “Look at him now. Didn’t he just take off without a word?”
Where did he say he was going? Guangdong? He had suddenly announced he was heading there. I clearly told him to wait since his training was incomplete, but the next morning, he had vanished without a trace. He left behind only a single note saying he’d be back soon.
“So I sent him a copy of that letter, too. He’ll either come home or head to Henan.”
That would make him easy to find. And after that…
‘It’s been a while. I should probably beat some sense into him.’
A "tender" exchange between master and disciple was already being scheduled. The only problem was…
‘These days, even a beating doesn’t seem to work so well.’
Unlike before, his disciple’s body had become annoyingly resistant to his strikes.
“In any case, it doesn’t really matter,” the Dishonored Venerable said, forcing down his irritation. “It’ll be fine no matter what trouble he causes now.”
“What do you mean?”
The Dishonored Venerable smiled. “I think he’s finally ready.” He looked at the Heavenly Venerable with his characteristic dark eyes. “He won’t be going around getting beaten up anymore. Because I’m the one who forged him.”
At the sheer confidence in his voice, the Heavenly Venerable couldn't help but tremble slightly. For he, too, knew exactly what kind of monster had been created.
* * *
In a forest within the Guangdong region.
“Achoo!”
A sneeze burst out while I was busy.
“Ah, damn it.” I wiped my nose, snot smearing across my hand. Frowning at the sticky feeling, I wiped it on my clothes.
A cold?
“No way.” My body wasn't the type to catch a cold. Seeing as my ear was a bit itchy, though… “Someone must be cursing me somewhere.”
The thought came automatically. The problem was, I had more than enough enemies to fill a stadium, so I had no idea who it could be.
“Well, whatever.” I didn’t really care. It wasn’t the first or second time I’d been cursed. It wouldn’t kill me, so I wasn’t interested. Of course, if they did it to my face, I’d smash their teeth in, but since they weren't here, it didn’t matter.
Besides, that wasn’t what was important right now.
I lifted my head. High above, the sky had turned a deep, bruised red. It was an unnatural sight for the middle of the night.
“Hmm…”
No matter how I looked at it, that was definitely that.
As I watched while taking a bite of roasted deer meat, I felt a reaction from beside me.
—Grrrrrowl.
Ttolddoli, who had been lying down to sleep, bared his teeth. He looked like he was licking his chops.
“You hungry?” I asked.
—Grrr.
Seeing the beast growl in affirmation, I felt a headache coming on.
“How are you hungry again after eating so much? You’re not very cost-efficient, are you?”
He’d been eating everything in sight on our way here, and he was still hungry?
—Grrr…
At my scolding, he hung his head dejectedly.
“Tsk.” I clicked my tongue. It felt shitty to scold him. What could I do if the guy was hungry? “Alright, fine.”
After swallowing the rest of my meat in one bite, I stood up. Ttolddoli rose with me. Then, with a rough dududuk! sound, his body began to swell.
Once he increased his size, he was enormous. The clearing where I’d made the fire wasn't small, yet he was large enough to envelop the entire area.
‘The funny thing is, that’s not even his full size.’
He could get bigger if he wanted to. I just didn't let him because it would attract too much attention. Was it because I fed him so much? As the years passed, his body grew to the point where he couldn't carelessly reveal his true form.
‘Though it’s probably not just the food.’
If I had to pinpoint the cause, it was likely my own energy. As I grew stronger, so did Ttolddoli.
‘Maybe that’s why it takes so much effort to shrink him now.’
I didn’t know why, but since the Qi Body Transformation Technique worked on him, it had been easy to keep his size hidden. But as he grew, the energy requirement had become taxing.
And what’s more…
“The amount you eat has increased, too.”
—Grrr?
“I’m saying you’re a glutton, you punk.”
He must have understood, but the beast simply flicked his whiskers, ignoring me. Was he getting more brazen with age?
“Hoo…” Suppressing a sigh, I nudged him.
Grrrrrrowl!
The beast let out a fierce growl and shot into the air.
Paaaang!
As his massive body soared, the recoil sent dust and dirt flying. Ttolddoli’s gaze was fixed on the center of the red sky. I could see the corners of his mouth turn up, excited to have received permission.
“Don't be too loud,” I warned. “Handle it quietly. Don’t wreck the whole area like last time.”
—Grrr.
The beast nodded, but I didn’t really trust him. He had a history of "accidents." When he first hatched from the Demonic Stone, he was a timid, cute little fellow. Now, he was getting fiercer by the day.
‘Is he going through puberty or something?’ I wondered if demons even dealt with that.
Ttolddoli vanished from sight in an instant. I was about to finish my meal when I felt it.
“Hm?”
A strong presence from far away. Seven people.
“Hmm.”
I sent out my senses. The perception spreading from the tips of my toes covered the surrounding forest. I detected figures running hastily in the distance. Looking closely, they seemed to be…
‘Bastards from the Alliance.’
I smirked. It was perfect timing.
“I was having a hard time finding them, anyway.”
If my memory served me right, there was a specific guy active around here at this time. Since I was in Guangdong on other business, I had intended to check on him while I was in the neighborhood.
‘He was harder to find than I expected.’
Perhaps because his title and name weren’t famous yet, he was elusive. Normally, I should have been out of Guangdong by now. I was wasting time.
I looked in the direction of the approaching presences and smiled.
“Shall I go ask them a few questions?”
With those words, I began to walk. There was no need to hurry. After all, we were all heading to the same place.