Chapter 17
Chapter 17
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Chang'an Falling Sun Merchant Group
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The day of the Shadowless Gate's gathering had arrived.
Their meetings were always at night. So today was a busy day for me as well.
But that didn't mean I rushed around from morning onward.
A day is long. No need to hurry.
If I couldn't do it today, I could always do it in a fortnight.
Time didn't flow in a rush here.
I leisurely ate breakfast and gazed idly at the garden.
A butterfly fluttered about. Its wingbeats and flight captivated the eyes.
My gaze followed that butterfly relentlessly.
A pure white butterfly darting back and forth over the planted flowers.
Was that a cabbage white? I didn't really know the name. It was just the only one I could think of.
Anyway, the butterfly's flight was elegant and profound. It wasn't random.
Each wingbeat held meaning, every movement infused with intent.
Mysterious trajectory. Fantastical curve.
To me, that flight looked like a sword form.
Ah. I was beyond saving. A true martial artist now.
Sword form, huh. That meant it could become a martial art.
Could I really mimic that movement?
"Great hero."
As I sat there quietly watching the butterfly, Seolha approached lightly on her feet and called out to me.
"Hm?"
"What are you doing?"
"Watching."
"Watching what?"
"A butterfly."
Seolha turned her gaze to the butterfly as well.
The fluttering butterfly. Seolha's hair swaying gently.
"Great hero."
"Yeah?"
"I have a question. May I ask?"
"Sure."
"It's not been long since I met you... but I've never seen you practicing martial arts. Have you reached such a realm that you no longer need to cultivate?"
It might sound like a rebuke at first glance, like 'Why aren't you training and just lounging around?' But that wasn't it.
Seolha had seen the Void Grasping technique.
Void Grasping wasn't some cheap trick anyone could mimic with residual power. It was a realm beyond parlor tricks.
So she must mean it innocently.
Pure curiosity. The kind any martial artist would naturally have.
"Hm. Practicing martial arts... I'm doing it every day."
"Every day?"
"Even right now."
"...By watching the butterfly?"
"Yeah."
Seolha tilted her head slightly, as if she couldn't comprehend my words.
Of course. That was normal.
She was still just twenty-three.
Too young to discuss realms. A level where one could only glimpse talent, passion, and potential.
"Seolha."
"Yes, Great Hero."
"Want me to show you my martial arts practice?"
"Yes. I'd love to see it."
There wasn't even a training ground here yet.
This estate hadn't been built for such purposes, so no training ground.
Manager Jang was preparing the stone slabs for the floor, so it would be ready soon. But for now, none.
Truth be told, we didn't need one yet. No one to use it.
Anyway, I stood up and looked around.
Hm. No sword in sight. And bringing the Dark Radiance Sword felt off.
"Tch. This'll have to do."
I snapped off a tree branch from the garden, about the length of my palm.
A twig the size of chopsticks.
Seolha watched me intently as I gripped the twig and extended a long sword aura along it.
Truth be told, I didn't need the sword aura. I made it just so Seolha could see better.
Holding the twig with the sword aura extended, I recalled the butterfly's flight from moments ago.
Shall I give it a try? It seemed vaguely similar.
And so, I became a single butterfly.
Movements that looked infinitely light. Yet those seemingly frail wingbeats defied the wind.
Slow-looking but fast. Feeble-seeming but grand.
Those wingbeats beguiled the eyes and stirred the heart.
The subtleties of swiftness and illusion. Was this it?
Steps that treaded cautiously, as if alighting delicately on petals.
A sword that fluttered like flapping wings.
The butterfly was clearly in sight, yet at some point, its trace was lost.
Pure white wings flapping, yet suddenly it was flying off in the distance.
My sword was the same. The blade at my chest was suddenly at the target.
No knowing when it arrived. No knowing when it extended.
It was simply there, everywhere at once.
The one butterfly I thought I saw was actually two.
I might have mistaken two different butterflies for one.
No, maybe not two. Could be three, four.
Right. That butterfly that entered this bush suddenly appearing from over there was odd.
So I swung my sword like that.
I swung here, but with that form, it extended from afar.
An unpredictable sword form. Unforeseeable footwork.
It slashed, cut, and struck down.
The formless sword tip swept from below upward, spun around me once slicing, then thrust forward again.
A flurry of sword dance unfolded.
I became the butterfly, and the butterfly became me.
Zhuangzi. Had he already witnessed this realm?
Did the butterfly become a dream? Or the dream a sword?
A whirlwind of dance unfolded.
Right. It was closer to dance than swordsmanship.
A butterfly's wingbeats didn't suit a sword technique meant to harm.
It suited a dance meant to be watched and enjoyed.
I retracted the sword aura, tossed the twig aside, and turned to look at Seolha.
Wide eyes, gaping mouth. Stunned expression. Uh... tears?
"Crying?"
"Huh!? No! I mean, no. Why would I cry!? Huh?"
Right. Not quite crying. No tears flowing. Just moist eyes.
"That impressive?"
"Nooo. I wasn't crying. Goodness. How strange... But yes, it was impressive. How did you wield the sword like that..."
"Just swung it on a whim. Cabbage White Sword Technique? Or maybe just White Butterfly Sword Technique?"
Cabbage white. Cabbage white butterfly.
I wasn't sure if that was the right name. But whatever. I named it.
Anyway, Seolha got it immediately and no longer questioned my training.
She grabbed a twig herself and tried mimicking the sword I'd just swung, moving this way and that.
Hm. Not bad? It felt a bit more vibrant than mine, probably because a pretty girl was wielding it.
Should I refine it more? I could probably make a few forms.
And so, until lunchtime, I spent time in the garden with Seolha.
Utterly peaceful. Leisurely time drifting by.
After lunch, I shattered Namgung Yeonhwa's dantian again.
Still a long way to go. Namgung Yeonhwa lay prone, still shy, as I pushed my inner energy into her body.
"Wonder what she'll need to eat to build up her constitution."
As I muttered after finishing the dantian shattering, Namgung Yeonhwa composed herself and spoke.
"I-I'm trying..."
"Not talking about you. You're doing well. I'm just antsy."
But I didn't rush this either. It was just a matter of time.
Hm. Still need to figure that out.
Those impurities accumulated in the acupoints. The same ones in Seolha.
That might be the key to the Righteous-Demonic-Evil Great War.
No matter how much they were outnumbered, it didn't make sense for the orthodox sects to fall so easily.
With all my tasks done, I finally prepared to head out.
But preparation was hardly needed. Just step outside.
"I'm off."
"Please... take care of yourself, Great Hero."
I caressed Seolha's cheek once, gave her butt a light pat, then left Ink Sword Grove.
Could've rolled around a bit more.
But then it'd be a hassle. If I'm going, better go quickly.
Near the Falling Sun Merchant Group. On the roof of a building.
I sat calmly atop it, watching the Demonic Cult bastards.
They scurried about like ants. So busy, such frantic fools.
I watched them until sunset.
No real need, but a bit of sincerity was in order.
One hour before the gathering.
I moved, slipping quickly into the Falling Sun Merchant Group.
My targets: two. Guys just finishing their shift and handing over.
I approached them and knocked one out cold instantly.
First time striking acupoints, but it worked better than expected. He crumpled right away.
Before the other noticed, I struck his acupoint too. Same result.
Like a burglar raiding a home, I grabbed the two guys and their swords, then swiftly exited the Falling Sun Merchant Group.
No one saw. Their disappearance would become a mystery for the group.
Ah. Or inexplicable? Whatever, not important.
Cleaving through the darkness, carrying two men over my shoulders, I leaped across rooftops to a pre-scouted spot.
A bit away from the city of eternal lights. A dim slum in Chang'an where no lanterns glowed.
I stripped one and donned his clothes.
Unpleasant wearing what he had on, but necessary effort, so I grumbled not and wore it obediently.
Now, this one's the issue.
Despite countless days in this martial world, one thing I'd yet to do remained.
Kill. Ending someone's life.
I'd probably end quite a few lives.
I wouldn't pursue non-killing. Those who must die, die.
But that didn't make ending a life enjoyable.
Even for villains. It gave one pause.
That was why in Luotian, I'd only broken limbs.
But not now. Now was the time to do what must be done.
Resolve.
I didn't know if excuses were needed to take a life, but I convinced myself.
It was necessary. An unavoidable sacrifice for the greater good.
But I erased those thoughts.
What sacrifice? He didn't volunteer.
What I did was simple murder. Nothing more.
I took his sword and thrust it into his heart.
Thus, one Demonic Cult underling died without knowing how.