Chapter 211
Chapter 211
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 211
Chapter Title: I Thought It Was a Honey Trap?
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Preparations for the march began.
But we didn't set out right away.
It went against my desire to head straight to the Radiant Star Mausoleum, but the Bee Corps was at the peak of exhaustion after days of forced marches.
Even if I dragged them along like this, we'd likely suffer heavy losses and have to retreat.
On top of that, we'd used up all the gunpowder we'd brought for sweeping the third front line, so from the next battle onward, we'd have to fight hand-to-hand.
We needed both rest and time to formulate plans.
My head understood why we had to delay, but my heart couldn't accept it easily.
Impatience kept gnawing at me.
『Stay calm, my lord. The more urgent the situation, the more we must proceed with care.』
The Vampire Demon seemed to sense my impatience.
『I know. It's just not that easy.』
I replied in a sullen tone, and suddenly laughter echoed from the shadows.
『Oh ho? So now my lord finds my words amusing?』
『...Are you trying to corner me like that?』
『If it bothers you, why don't you take the young cult leader position?』
『Would you just hand it over if I asked?』
『Hey now! You think I'd give it away for free? The New Cult's first rule is survival of the fittest. Let's have a match.』
『With our current skill gap, one light tap from me might put you in danger, my lord...』
『Then I'd spread it everywhere. 'The Vampire Demon committed treason against the young cult leader!!'』
『In that case, I'll pass.』
『Another victory for me today.』
『Congratulations. As expected, no one but you, my lord, is fit to be the next cult leader.』
After exchanging light banter with me, the Vampire Demon continued.
『I laughed because I realized even you, my lord, have moments of weakness.』
I wondered what he meant.
『You've seen me since Master first took me in. What are you talking about?』
『No. Back then too—we Five Great Sword Generals never saw any weakness from you, my lord.』
『?』
『Of course, if 'weakness' includes your childish appearance as a kid, or throwing tantrums demanding ice cream and sweets, or locking yourself in your room and going on a hunger strike when you didn't get them, only to be dragged out by the ear by the Cult Leader—』
Was this him roasting me indirectly?
『If that's what you mean by weak, then you might have a point, but that's not what I'm talking about.』
My mind went blank for a moment.
The Vampire Demon continued with a hint of amusement.
『I'm talking about the pain in your heart, my lord.』
『.......』
『You've hardly ever shown your true feelings, have you? Not even to the Cult Leader.』
『.......』
He was right.
I'd had this strange obsession since childhood.
The compulsion to never show weakness to anyone.
It stemmed from the environment I grew up in.
Born without a dantian, my only talent was seeing dead spirits—what use was that?
In the back alleys, I was treated no better than a dog butcher.
There were even hands reaching out to use me as a one-night plaything, so I had to live with venom in my eyes.
I'd even seriously considered throwing myself on a hot grill to disfigure this face and improve my miserable life.
Even after Master took me in, my outlook didn't change much.
I knew Master cherished me deeply. I knew the Five Great Sword Generals truly blessed me. I knew the followers welcomed me with joy.
But I couldn't change my attitude.
What if they saw my weak side? Would Master be disappointed? Would the Sword Generals disapprove? Would the followers abandon me? Those worries lingered in a corner of my heart.
That was the side of me the Vampire Demon meant.
『But showing a slightly different side now surprised me a little.』
He didn't say the change was bad. He said he was glad to see it.
『.......』
A change I hadn't even noticed in myself.
I mulled over his words for a long time.
* * *
Meanwhile, the Ghost Clan, who had been in hiding, finally revealed themselves.
We still didn't have a full grasp of their forces.
Their leader moved too covertly.
On top of that, remnants of the South Palace Clan might still be around, so we needed to scout them first.
"Scout the enemy's strength, their deployments, and the situation at the Radiant Star Mausoleum."
"Understood!"
"Understood!"
At True Person Sunhak's command, the Kongtong Sect's elite Demon-Subduing Sword Guards mobilized.
I'd heard there was even a secret passage from the supposedly fully sealed White Snow Valley to the outside.
Through it, they contacted lay disciples and branch families, gathering intel swiftly.
The Ghost Clan was no longer hiding. They openly displayed their might in the Gansu martial world.
They raided resisting sects, forcing them to seal their doors, or sowed division to annex them.
Rumors said nearly a third of Gansu murim had already fallen into their hands—how dire could it get?
With South Palace reinforcements gathering in real time, True Person Sunhak grew visibly haggard by the hour.
But his eyes burned fiercer than ever.
They blazed with the will to carry on the bloodline that had endured for a thousand years.
"There is a hidden tunnel connecting White Snow Valley to the Radiant Star Mausoleum. It was sealed long ago, but reopening it will take some time. Please wait a little."
While the Kongtong Sect busily prepared their counterattack,
The Anti-Wicked Bees exchanged messages with the Tang branch and Wind Flower Pavilion, reorganizing our forces.
Tang Gyujin and Yu Sumyeong inspected each Bee Corps member's martial arts, while also sparring frequently with the Demon-Subduing Sword Guards to build synergy.
They'd recently crossed swords briefly, and apparently, sparks flew.
Perhaps sharing the bond of great righteous sects made for easy camaraderie and endless topics.
They had much to exchange on sect management too.
Especially Tang Gyujin's eyes—they'd changed.
"Do you know the swordsmanship creed the Kongtong Sect pursues?"
"Isn't it 'Butchering an Ox with Ease'?"
"Right."
'Butchering an Ox with Ease' came from the Zhuangzi's chapter on nurturing life, referencing an anecdote from the Warring States period where Duke Wen of Yue met the butcher Ding.
One day, Butcher Ding was slaughtering an ox for Duke Wen, and his technique was so natural that even the ox felt no pain. Impressed, the duke asked how he did it.
Butcher Ding replied that by forgetting self and ox, breaking down barriers to perceive the natural patterns, he'd butchered thousands of oxen over nineteen years with a blade as sharp as new from the whetstone.
In essence, pursuing effortless natural flow without artificial interference—that was the core of Kongtong swordsmanship.
"From the perspective of someone wielding the unique Divine Demon Sword, the Demon-Subduing Sword Guards' swordsmanship is the perfect stimulus. I was agonizing over how to divide boundaries, but I realized that very artificiality was the problem."
She was on the verge of another major breakthrough. Her infant sprout was growing vigorously into a spirit tree.
Gongson Beom mainly handled communications with the Tang branch.
Thanks to him, I heard some interesting news.
First, our mission priority had been upgraded to the highest level.
Second, the clan head's order had come down for the Stormwind Division to assemble.
The righteous-demonic great war had been declared.
The other Bee Corps members mingled easily with the Kongtong disciples.
Sharing meals, carrying supplies, grinding herbs in the medicine storehouse together. They helped with any requests for cooperation.
And me?
I spent most of my time with Sima Seon-ui.
Sparring with her.
"Something's clicking for me. Help me out."
I'd lost my Fearwind Fan and was adapting to a new sword. Her proposal was a huge help.
Clang clang clang!
The borrowed Kongtong sword felt unfamiliar in my hand, but that very awkwardness made it ideal for honing the Three Sword Arts.
Lately, I'd been practicing fully integrating the Yellow Dragon Roaring Wind into the Three Sword Arts.
I had a strong premonition that only once fully fused could I move to the next sword art.
It was the same during successive spars or Anti-Wicked Bees drills—Sima Seon-ui was the one I sparred with most frequently and for the longest.
She was my closest 'sparring partner' right now.
A few exchanges of blows, and I could easily read her thoughts.
For some reason, Sima Seon-ui's sword felt different today.
Swoosh!
After sheathing my blade, I asked.
"Is something the matter?"
"Huh? Nothing—"
"Your sword form is much more disordered than usual."
Sima Seon-ui hesitated briefly before answering.
It wasn't like her.
"If it's personal, you don't have to say."
"No. Actually, I got a letter from my father."
She let out a light sigh as she replied.
My eyes widened slightly.
Her father—the Azure Heaven Sword Emperor?
"My father... wants to meet the platoon leader once."
Me?
Why?
"He must be worried about his youngest daughter."
"I hate that. I'm a swordswoman too, you know. He always treats me like a child."
Sima Seon-ui pouted in displeasure.
It was a rare sight from someone who rarely showed emotion.
"I told Father I'd handle my own affairs, so don't worry about it."
I nodded quietly.
But inwardly, I had a strong feeling I'd meet the Azure Heaven Sword Emperor soon.
His doting on his youngest daughter was infamous even in the New Cult.
It was a wonder he'd let her do fieldwork this long.
『By the way, I have a question.』
Just then, the Vampire Demon's transmission pierced my ear.
『What?』
『Which of the three?』
『?』
『The one we should serve as our lady.』
『???』
What the hell? Like tripping over a frog mid-kick?
『Ah, the Thousand Leaf Immortal is out, then. She's siblings with the body you're in... That leaves two. But I vaguely recall hearing the Nine Dragons Branch Leader's son and the Tang Clan head's granddaughter were betrothed in the womb, so back to three.』
『...Vampire Demon, were you talking about the Three Peerless Beauties?』
『Hm? What else would I mean?』
Crazy.
『As your retainer, I'd advise against the Pure Moon Fairy. Pulling the orthodox sects to our side is good, but her demon-vanquishing nature clashes too much with you, my lord. Besides, you've practically taken over the Tang Clan already, so I'd recommend the White Sword Orchid right in front of you over the Heaven-Earth Phoenix—』
『That won't happen, so quit slurping that ramen broth.』
『Hm? Or were you seducing someone else? No, my lord! These things tend to spiral out of control with too many loose ends—』
『Argh, I said it's not like that!』
The Vampire Demon posed his doubt.
『I thought you were using a honey trap, my lord.』
Does he think just because he did it back in the day, I would too?
「Ho ho, I never even imagined this! The Vampire Demon seems to have given good advice.」
「Indeed! If we can bring Azure Flower Manor into the New Cult, it would greatly aid our future plans—」
I have no such intentions, you idiots!
『The Azure Heaven Sword Emperor wanting to meet you personally seems like a declaration to check out the punk seducing his precious youngest and kick you out if he doesn't approve. Actually, about fifteen years ago, that kid's father whom I lightly—』
I tuned out the Vampire Demon's nonsense and refocused on sparring when a messenger from True Person Sunhak arrived.
"The sect leader says the hidden tunnel is open."
I nodded, clenching my fist tightly.
Reincarnation Martial God Legend