Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Gwiyeong and the Gale Blade (2)
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"…!"
Gwiyeong flinched, her eyes widening in shock.
A talking weapon.
In all her life, Gwiyeong had never heard of such a thing.
[You look just as surprised as a novice. Is it really that shocking?]
The Gale Blade taunted the bewildered Gwiyeong.
Its tone was laced with thick arrogance.
[You look quite young at a glance. Your level of mastery is impressive for your age.]
She was twenty-eight. To reach the transcendent level before the age of thirty was a realm of truly immense talent.
A person without martial talent who dedicates sixty years to their craft typically becomes a first-rate master.
With a bit of talent or a moment of self-realization, one could reach the peak level.
It was at this stage that one could wield sword ki.
However, there were occasional masters who reached the peak or transcendent levels at a young age.
Usually, such individuals had stumbled upon a special fortune, like meeting a great teacher or finding a martial arts manual written by a master.
And sometimes, there were those who crushed their way to the top on pure talent alone.
Such people always caused great ripples.
The Sword Demon was one such case, having entered the state of Demonic Possession—a level of demonic arts similar to the state of Transformation—at the same age as Gwiyeong. Now, he had reached the state of Demonic Transcendence, securing an overwhelming position within the Heavenly Demon Cult.
Although Unmyeong was a genius among geniuses and a difficult comparison, Gwiyeong was also clearly a figure who fell into the category of a prodigy.
Gwiyeong, who had grown up just shy of thirty without a proper master, learning by watching street fights and reading martial arts manuals sold in the market.
Even in such an environment, she had achieved the miracle of reaching the transcendent level.
Wasn't that why she had swept through the surrounding regions in a short time, earning the title 'Ghostly Shadow' and becoming the master of a guild that seized hegemony?
The Heavenly Demon Cult's Sword Demon was simply an outlier; Gwiyeong was, without a doubt, an incredible genius.
Even for someone like her, a talking sword was bound to be utterly bewildering.
"…What are you…?"
Suddenly, she looked around.
Only then did she realize that, thanks to her victory, many of her subordinates were watching and cheering for her.
"As expected of our Guild Master…!"
"To take down such a strong master in an instant…! Long live the Black Ghost Guild!"
"This is our Guild Master! Hahahaha!"
There were too many eyes here to have a conversation with a mysterious weapon like the Gale Blade.
She quickly composed her flustered expression and spoke to her subordinates.
"He was a disappointment. From now on, if any problems arise, report them to me immediately."
In truth, he had been a top-tier talent within the criminal underworld.
Usually, the leaders of unorthodox underworld factions would first send their subordinates into deadly situations to gauge the odds. If it seemed winnable, they would join; if not, they would flee.
Because of this, their sense of belonging was weak, and subordinates lived with the constant anxiety that their leader could abandon them at any moment.
But things were a little different in the Black Ghost Guild.
Gwiyeong led from the front to solve problems and never assigned tasks beyond her subordinates' abilities. So, even though the world called her a villainess or the Ghostly Shadow, to her followers, she was a trustworthy leader.
Besides, wasn't she also a stunning beauty with an exceptional figure and face?
Among the female martial artists who often neglected their appearance, Gwiyeong was a unique existence.
As a result, her subordinates' trust and affection for her soared to the heavens.
"This is our Guild Master!!!"
"You're amazing!!!"
"We pledge our loyalty!!"
Amidst the fervent cheers, Gwiyeong waved a hand to calm the mood.
"Alright. The urgent matter is resolved, so the rest of you clean this place up. Restore it as quickly as possible so the tavern's reputation doesn't suffer. I'll be heading back now."
Hearing her orders, the Black Ghost Guild members immediately bowed their heads and replied.
"""Yes! Take care, Guild Master!!!"""
Gwiyeong, carrying the Gale Blade, calmly made her way through the crowd of guild members.
Afterward, an executive who had been waiting outside greeted her.
"Guild Master, was everything taken care of?"
"Yes. And I acquired some unexpected spoils."
The executive looked at the broadsword Gwiyeong was holding and replied.
"It certainly is a unique-looking blade."
"That's why I'm heading straight back to the Black Ghost Guild to examine it. Make sure no one disturbs me until I call for them."
"Yes, I'll pass on the message."
With those words, Gwiyeong returned directly to the Black Ghost Guild and headed for her office.
A short while later, upon arriving at her office, Gwiyeong locked the door.
-Click.
Sitting in her office, Gwiyeong placed the Gale Blade on the desk and spoke with a serious expression.
"…What are you? How can a sword talk?"
The Gale Blade answered her with indifference.
[Didn't I tell you earlier? I am the Gale Blade.]
"That's not what I'm asking. Who in the world made you?"
[Contractor, that is not important. All you need to know is that you have obtained the power to achieve anything.]
"…Suspicious."
Gwiyeong's talents weren't limited to martial arts.
She had an almost supernatural sense for detecting others' impure intentions and emotions.
That keen sense was warning Gwiyeong now.
*That thing is lying.*
*Keeping it by her side would cause problems later.*
She stared at the red eye embedded in the Gale Blade's body.
That distinct, arrogant gaze.
It was the eye of a villain who wouldn't hesitate to use others as pawns.
That's why Gwiyeong instantly knew the Gale Blade was hiding something.
"There's something you're not telling me."
[Everyone has a secret or two they can't share. Contractor, as I said, what's important is that you've obtained immense power.]
The Gale Blade's words were as sweet as a demon's whisper.
[Accept my power, and you can easily obtain what you truly desire. Power? Authority? Money? It matters not what it is.]
"…"
[The important thing is that I can grant your wishes.]
"And what do you get out of it?"
[By contracting with you, I get to see and experience this world through your eyes.]
"Hah! You'd help me for something as trivial as that?"
[I do not lie.]
"That's what all swindlers say."
Thieves say they didn't steal anything.
Swindlers say they didn't lie.
That's how the world works.
They perfectly hide their dark side and deny it with their words.
Having spent a long time in the dark underworld, Gwiyeong knew this all too well.
[As expected of someone from the gutters of the underworld. You have no trust. Have you only ever been deceived?]
The Gale Blade hurled a subtle insult at her.
"Hide that arrogant attitude of yours before you speak."
[When ability backs it up, it's not arrogance, but confidence.]
Hearing that, Gwiyeong let out a small laugh and remained silent.
This was something she, too, had to admit.
Having reached the transcendent level at a young age, she herself was governed by a feeling she couldn't quite identify as arrogance or confidence.
'It's certainly suspicious, but I really like its appearance. Then again, roses do have thorns.'
The analogy was a bit strange, but she found herself quite fond of the Gale Blade.
Her strong sense of possessiveness had already decided to keep the Gale Blade, so its insolent words just seemed like a unique quirk.
Thus, after a brief moment of consideration, she looked at the Gale Blade and spoke.
"Fine. I don't know what you're hiding, but I will accept your power."
[Wise.]
"But know this. I don't know what schemes you're plotting, but I won't be a pushover."
[Well, we'll see about that.]
"It would be better for you to just obey me quietly."
[Obedience is for when a hierarchy is clearly established. Know your place.]
"You are a weapon, and I am a warrior."
Gwiyeong had been through all sorts of trials and tribulations, adapting to this harsh world.
She had no intention of being easily manipulated.
"Well, regardless, you're mine now. Gale Blade, was it? I'm Gwiyeong."
[The Ghostly Shadow, I like it. One must be at least that impressive to be my contractor. I despise weaklings.]
"You have an interesting way of speaking. Don't you miss your previous owner?"
[If we're going by that, I don't know how many I'd have to miss.]
"I'm different. I've never lost anything I've gotten my hands on."
Just as they finished their introductions.
Someone rushed to the office and knocked on the door.
-Thump, thump, thump.
"Who is it?"
Gwiyeong asked, and a man's urgent voice came from outside.
"Guild Master! We have a problem! The White Serpent Guild Master has brought his men to the front of the manor!"
At the mention of the White Serpent Guild Master, Gwiyeong's eyebrow twitched.
The White Serpent Guild Master was the leader of one of Hunan's powerful underworld guilds, famous for being a former member of the orthodox faction who had crossed over to the unorthodox world.
Furthermore, the White Serpent Guild Master had two martial brothers, the Black Serpent Guild Master and the Red Serpent Guild Master, and together they were known as the Three Serpent Guild Masters.
Each of them had reached the mid or late peak level at a young age, making them quite powerful in the underworld.
They were all formidable warriors with clear allies, but the biggest problem was something else entirely.
It was the master they served.
Their master was none other than one of the highest executives of the Heretic Alliance, a man called the Black Dragon Society's Chairman.
As such, the White Serpent Guild Master alone was not an easy opponent, but with such a powerful backer and solid allies, he had virtually no rivals in the underworld.
The only potential rivals were the disciples or subordinate organizations of other Heretic Alliance executives comparable to the Black Dragon Society's Chairman, but their territories didn't overlap, so there was little friction.
However, a few days ago, Gwiyeong, the Black Ghost Guild Master, had crushed a guild that paid tribute to the White Serpent Guild Master, so it seemed he had come because of that.
"Get the men ready. I'll be out shortly."
"Yes!"
Thinking, *So it has come to this*, Gwiyeong straightened her clothes in the mirror.
Attire and appearance were important factors in not being looked down upon by others.
Thus, she sharpened her expression as she looked into the mirror.
[It seems a problem has arisen.]
"It was expected."
[Are you worried?]
"Nonsense. Didn't I say it was expected? Worry comes from unforeseen uncertainty."
[For someone so sure, you look quite anxious.]
"…"
It was true, so Gwiyeong didn't bother to reply.
She finished her preparations, took the Gale Blade, and left her office for the main courtyard.
As she threw open the main gates of the pavilion, her eyes fell upon the members of the White Serpent Guild, clad in white martial arts uniforms, facing off against her Black Ghost Guild warriors.
And at their forefront stood a man in a white snake mask.
The White Serpent Guild Master watched Gwiyeong, his luxurious and ornate white robes fluttering, conspicuous even from a distance.
"Gwiyeong, Master of the Black Ghost Guild. I've been waiting."
The White Viper of Hunan, the White Serpent Guild Master, greeted Gwiyeong.