Chapter 72
Chapter 72
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 72
Chapter Title: A Sword Fragrance Emanated
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"Sword fragrance wafted from him."
"You naughty girl."
"?"
Yu Sumin and Sima Seonyi were escorted to the same guesthouse.
But the moment they shed their uncomfortable formal robes and changed into comfortable clothes, Yu Sumin suddenly flashed a mischievous grin.
A question mark popped up over Sima Seonyi's head.
"Pretending not to know, huh."
"??"
"You really plan to deny it to the end?"
"???"
Sima Seonyi looked utterly baffled.
Yu Sumin thumped her own chest in frustration.
"You, I mean you!"
"???"
"You were staring at Young Master Wunhwi the whole time! Did you think I wouldn't notice?"
"!"
Sima Seonyi's eyes widened slightly.
Mischief danced in Yu Sumin's eyes.
It seemed like she needed to clear up the misunderstanding first.
"No, it wasn't like that."
"What do you mean no? As the saying goes, the quiet cat climbs the ridgepole first. You always shout that you only know swords, and yet here you are, totally smitten."
"I'm telling you, it wasn't."
"Your eyes never left Young Master Wunhwi. Even he seemed to notice. I was embarrassed for you."
"So, like I said—"
"Well, Young Master Wunhwi is pretty handsome. Right? He has this poignant face that stirs a mother's instinct to protect him, yet there's this mysterious, enigmatic aura that makes him hard to approach."
"I didn't feel anything like—"
"Hehe! Don't worry, though. He's not my type. I won't touch what you've reserved."
"Really, it wasn't—"
"What should we do? Should this big sister play matchmaker for you? I could ask Sister Gyujin."
'She's not listening to me at all!!'
Sima Seonyi wanted to jump up and down in place.
Yu Sumin was a great friend in many ways.
She always dragged Sima Seonyi, who lacked eloquence and social skills, everywhere with her.
Without Yu Sumin, Sima Seonyi would have holed up in the mountain villa, polishing swords without ever making a proper friend.
But even this kind-hearted Yu Sumin had one flaw.
Once she got locked into her own delusions and went off the rails, there was no stopping her.
No amount of persuasion worked in these moments.
Of course, Sima Seonyi admitted her mistake.
Looking back, she had stared at Wunhwi so intently it bordered on rude.
But unlike what Yu Sumin thought, it wasn't due to romantic feelings.
'That man... he emanated sword fragrance. Definitely.'
From a young age, Sima Seonyi had loved exactly two things.
One was the flowers planted throughout the villa grounds.
And the other was...
'Swords.'
The flowers her father meticulously tended while wandering the gardens bloomed in different forms each season, brightening her heart just by looking at them.
Especially when inhaling their scent, she felt as if she were wandering in a dream.
Swords were much like those flowers.
The more you nurtured flowers, the more affection you poured into them, the more beautiful they became.
But pour in too much, and they withered or their roots rotted.
The same went for swords.
The more diligently you wielded it, the sharper it grew, but immerse yourself too deeply, and your vision narrowed, leading to a decline in skill.
That was why her father always sat her down and said:
Treat the sword like a flower—nurture it, but know when to step back and observe.
And sometimes pruning was needed, so don't cultivate it alone; seek advice from others too.
From then on, Sima Seonyi steadily caressed her sword while frequently engaging in sword spars with others.
To objectively assess her skills, identify weaknesses, and improve them.
However, there was one rule before any spar.
The opponent had to be a fellow swordsman.
Sparring was, after all, a contest of swords; it offered little benefit against non-swordsmen.
In that regard, the person named Wunhwi she met in the capital was a poor candidate for sparring.
Heir to the Stormwind Squad of the Tang Clan, Nine Dragons Branch Family.
Just looking at those words screamed "far from swords," didn't it?
So, she should have thought, "Oh, such a person exists," and left it at that.
The problem came after.
'Why did sword fragrance emanate from Young Master Wunhwi? He surely never wielded a sword.'
Sword fragrance was the scent exuded only by those beloved by swords.
It was like an innate ability unique to the Sima bloodline of Azure Flower Villa.
The Azure Sky Sword Emperor had gathered only those who emanated such sword fragrance to build today's Azure Flower Villa.
Conversely, Sima Seonyi sought out those with sword fragrance to spar with them.
All to forge her own profound sword fragrance.
Yet Wunhwi emanated it.
It was inexplicable.
It would make sense if the Dang Gyujin siblings did.
They had the South Palace Clan as their maternal family.
But Wunhwi was their half-brother from a different mother, wasn't he?
Meaning, there was zero reason for him to emanate sword fragrance.
And yet he did—and not just any, but the true sword fragrance unique to finely honed blades.
She wanted to know why.
The true nature of that true sword fragrance.
If her father were here, she would ask him, but since he wasn't, she had observed carefully—
"This won't do. Strike while the iron is hot—they say. We should head straight to that Blue Pavilion place."
Yu Sumin sprang to her feet.
She brimmed with energy.
"...Why there?"
"Why? To ask Sister Gyujin about Young Master Wunhwi's tastes, of course. And check if he's seeing anyone."
"!!"
No! Stop!
Sima Seonyi hurriedly reached out to stop Yu Sumin.
"See? You want to go too, right?"
"!?"
Misinterpreting it as a plea to come along, Yu Sumin grabbed her wrist.
Sima Seonyi's face flushed with embarrassment.
"That's not—"
"Yeah. Let's go quick."
Yu Sumin unleashed her lightness skill.
Emei Sect's signature technique: Divine Travel Bewildering Steps.
'Aaaah!'
Sima Seonyi fluttered like a kite in the wind for a good while.
* * *
"Young sect heir—"
"Calm down—"
The spirits' urgent voices rang out.
My expression must have been unsightly.
"Young master?"
Even Dang Gon beside me tilted his head.
I turned to him with a calm smile.
"Yeah? What's up?"
"Have I offended you somehow...? No, never mind."
I did my best.
To keep my emotions from showing.
I'd already failed to control them after interrogating Baek San, so this time I tried extra hard.
But... it wasn't easy.
"The Seven Breaths Life-Evasion Technique seems to have sensed something odd about you. But it's just curiosity or suspicion for now, so if you're making a decision, do it now."
Onma's cold advice pierced my ear.
Gu Min-chae suspects me too.
He's probably pegging 'Dang Wunhwi' as Baek San's killer.
But if I kept acting suspiciously, he might suspect something bigger.
Like 'Dang Wunhwi' being 'that Wunhwi.'
So, I needed to decide before then.
Subdue Gu Min-chae right here?
Or pretend ignorance and let him into the branch family villa?
The former might vent my rage immediately.
But it would derail all plans.
The North Sea Sect Leader might not come straight away and try other tricks, or summon more forces from Thiên Mountain.
'Not yet. Hold back. Just a little longer.'
I couldn't ruin things, so I leaned toward the latter.
But the fury boiling like a volcano toward that bastard refused to subside, driving me mad.
Just then, as Gu Min-chae sensed something off and his eyebrow twitched—
''You're that arrogant punk they mentioned, huh—!''
A thunderous echo boomed from the sky.
A Six Harmonies Roar amplified by profound inner power.
"!!"
"!!"
"!!"
Dang Gon, Gu Min-chae, the Nine Dragons Branch Family retainers, Golden Sword Sect disciples—all looked up in shock.
Something boasting monstrous presence plummeted like a meteor shower.
"Young sect heir, evade!"
"Evaaaade!!"
But there was no time.
I hurriedly twisted my body per the Warrior Scripture principles and thrust my hand forward.
A quick-witted spirit fetched a nearby Golden Sword Sect disciple's spear via soul manifestation and placed it in my hand.
Clang!
Raging Tiger Twelve Spear
Black Tiger Emerges from the Cave
Stormwind infused with black dragon energy loaded onto the tiger's claws.
A blade strike crashed onto the spear tip.
KABOOOM!
Not metal clashing, but an explosion like a cannon blast.
I endured excruciating pain that felt like my arm might rip off, forcing power into my legs to deflect the shockwave sideways.
Urk!
Blood from internal injuries surged up my throat; I forced it down.
Damn! Dang Ho-san was one thing, and now this attacker—why can't I get a single break lately?
Rumble—
The ground caved in.
Pottery shards scattered, kicking up a massive dust cloud.
Whoosh!
Through the obscuring dust, golden glaring eyes emerged.
Sharp and slit like a lion eyeing prey, exuding immense pressure.
I wondered if it was a North Sea Sect ghost brought by Gu Min-chae, but the aura differed vastly from icy demon energy.
"Th-this—"
"What in the world—"
People gulped dryly and staggered back a couple steps.
Grooms sweated to calm the spooked horses.
And then.
Tadak!
Countless shadows leaped onto the villa roofs and walls.
All tense-faced.
Each gripping hidden weapons.
Jeongpung Pavilion warriors.
They had mobilized in case of enemy attack.
Dang Gon urgently raised his hand to signal a halt.
It wasn't time yet.
Soon, other guests arrived to check the situation, crowding the area.
Dang Gyujin, Yu Sumin, Sima Seonyi, and more.
Oddly, Sima Seonyi's gaze toward me was intense.
As if trying to discern something.
Whoooosh!
Then the lion's killing intent whipped up a vortex.
The dust cloud vanished like a lie, revealing the attacker.
A beast with hair dangling wildly like a lion's mane stood there.
Dust-covered and ragged from a hasty long journey, looking like a beggar—but his ferocious aura made him seem even wilder.
"Huh, h-heck!"
"That person—"
"The one who should be in Gwiju—why here!?"
Those who recognized him gasped in unison.
Jeongpung Pavilion was equally stunned.
He wasn't someone who moved so lightly.
He was the supreme ruler of Gwiju martial world.
"Stormwind Mad Hero bore fine offspring, I see! Good enough to smash my worthless disciple's head in!"
I planted the spear in the ground and cupped my fists.
"Nine Dragons Branch Family's young branch leader, your humble student Dang Wunhwi, greets the supreme ruler of Gwiju martial world and master of Lion Gate, Great Hero Blade King Wi Ji."
Lion Gate Leader, Lion Blade King Wi Ji Humyeong.
He curled one lip in a savage grin.