Chapter 5
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Is This Brat Your Daughter? (1)
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I sat down in a daze, staring blankly at the massive golden crack that had appeared in the sky.
"Snow Python, what the hell is that?"
[Cough... Cough...!!]
Our Snow Python was coughing nonstop, hacking away miserably.
I had no idea whose fault it was, but damn, she looked pitiful.
Still, thanks to her noble sacrifice, I'd gotten a basic grasp of things.
On how to wield internal energy.
And on just how refined the internal energy in my body truly was.
At first, the fact that it couldn't grow beyond third-rate had made me grimace.
'...If I want to change the martial world, I need to be strong first.'
The martial world was a place where you needed overwhelming power just to make your voice heard.
You couldn't practice chivalry without martial prowess backing it up.
Chivalry without strength was worth less than a fart.
'As for the limit on my internal energy...'
There didn't seem to be one.
Unless I'd reached the Natural Realm, this shouldn't be possible.
My body felt so serene, it was hard to believe I'd attained the realm of an immortal sage.
I'd expected some kind of euphoric high or something.
'It's my own body, after all.'
This must be the default state, so I wasn't sensing anything off about it.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, and it felt like all of nature was greeting me.
Birds fluttered close and chirped, while the grass beneath my feet bowed in surprise before I even touched it.
Of course, the grass didn't bend or break under my steps.
My footfalls were as light as if I were constantly using lightness skill.
"......"
[Haa... I feel like I'm dying...]
As I savored this sage-like tranquility, Snow Python finally came to her senses beside me. She let out an adorable whine and climbed up my arm.
[Little Sword Phoenix... I was going to teach you basic swordsmanship before sending you out into the world.]
She gazed up at the cracked sky as she said it.
[Even my formation couldn't withstand your energy... I'm sorry.]
Seeing her apologize instead filled me with a twinge of guilt.
'...Whatever.'
I'd long since realized regrets were pointless.
It was about time I made my presence known to the world.
From here on out, I planned to pose as a transcendent master beyond the Life and Death Realm.
'What's a little lie between friends?'
This entire martial world was built on lies anyway—what was one more?
"...I'll handle the rest."
True enlightenment of the heart was still out of reach, so brute-forcing a mental sword with my absurd internal energy stores wouldn't work. I picked up a nearby tree branch instead.
I did have that iron fan streaked with black and red, but...
With my red hair, wielding it might get me mistaken for some high-ranking Blood Cult noble for real.
I might be strong, but I had no intention of turning the entire Central Plains martial world against me.
"Something like a wooden sword would fit the vibe perfectly."
[Why not head to the market and buy one?]
"Hmm... Don't think I could make one here."
Snow Python jumped in surprise at my words.
[You know how to make one!?]
"...You'd have to teach me."
[Oh, I don't know how.]
Snow Python flashed a bright, innocent smile.
If she'd said it in that booming voice from earlier that sounded like it belonged to a heavenly mandate announcer, I might've smacked her again.
'...She's too cute to punish right now.'
With that raspy little voice, I let it slide. I sighed deeply and stroked her head.
At the same time, I channeled internal energy into the branch in my hand.
'If they set up something this intricate... the Zhuge family head or someone of that caliber must be here.'
In wuxia tales, the Zhuge family often had middling martial prowess.
But who knew in this world.
'Maybe imitate Wudang swordsmanship.'
I was curious what reaction I'd get if I looked like some evil faction thug but unleashed pure Wudang swordplay.
All I could do was hope they had some real insight into martial arts.
-Crack...!!!
The sky split open once more, birthing several branching golden fissures.
And through them, a gray sky and endlessly towering bamboo came into view.
I flashed a sly grin.
My first step into the true martial world.
[How about going out in style?]
Of course I'd go out in style.
I just gave Snow Python an innocent smile instead of answering.
-Crack!!!
"...!!!"
I'd thought layering illusions would hold back the collapse, but the formation was finally breaking down.
At the same time, an immense surge of internal energy leaked from within.
"...Was there truly an immortal sage inside?"
Zhuge Ji-yeon halted her steps and raised her iron fan.
She snapped it open with a sharp shhrrk and assumed a stance.
She had no idea if she could win, but she had to try, didn't she?
She was only eighteen—far too young to die.
But what could she do?
She didn't cling to such regrets. Sweat beading on her brow, Ji-yeon kept her posture steady and racked her brain.
'That girl I saw inside...'
The girl who had locked eyes with her from within.
A mad killing intent, and judging by her eye color, she wasn't Han Chinese.
Was she Long-Eared Clan or short-statured? No, her ears weren't oversized, she wasn't tiny, and her proportions were normal.
Which meant she was neither, yet she possessed that level of killing intent and internal energy.
Normally, Ji-yeon would have sensed Snow Python's spirit beast aura as well.
But it was completely overshadowed by Ha-yeon's murderous pressure.
'...An immortal?'
And yet, she deduced it effortlessly.
Of course, she was wrong.
'Even if not an immortal, she's undoubtedly a transcendent master beyond Life and Death Realm... Stronger than the Sword Sovereign, leader of the Martial Alliance.'
The Three Supremes of the World.
The Sword Sovereign of the Martial Alliance, the Heavenly Demon, and the Blood Demon—the former evil faction leader turned Evil Alliance Lord.
Ji-yeon suspected someone of that caliber would emerge from the now crumbling seal before her eyes.
Why had such a monster suddenly appeared here?
Had they somehow incurred an immortal's wrath? Tense with dread, she—
-Crack!!!
The formation shattered, revealing a dilapidated shack that looked ready to crumble to dust at any moment.
A girl holding a wooden sword, beaming with a bright smile.
And a white snake slithering languidly up her body.
"...!!!"
In an instant, she felt the air around her shift completely.
How could the familiar air in front of her home feel so utterly alien?
Even breathing in and out brought a crushing pressure, as if she needed permission.
"......"
Yet Ji-yeon refused to let go of her rationality. She scanned her surroundings instead.
'...No one's here?'
A gray sky, darkened environs.
And the Zhuge warriors sprawled on the ground, foaming at the mouth.
Terror? Illusion?
The soldiers had long since collapsed, writhing and drooling on the dirt.
Then, a voice pierced her ears.
"Little Sword Phoenix, may I have your name?"
The girl before her asked with a friendly smile.
Only then did Ji-yeon notice her red eyes.
'...Blood, Ghost?'
Blood Ghost.
Dozens of years ago.
Those who worshipped and followed the Blood Demon—one of the Three Supremes—during the Righteous-Evil War.
Monsters who wouldn't die no matter how many times you killed them, who craved the blood of righteous faction folk and turned them into fellow Blood Ghosts.
If you fought one and your dantian was tainted even once by their energy...
Your internal energy would swiftly corrupt into theirs. You'd forget all your hard-earned martial arts, wield Blood Ghost techniques, and crave others' energy.
Countless righteous faction members had fallen that way.
Her father had told her how the martial world had changed forever because of it.
Her mind went blank for a moment.
"B-Blood... Ghost...?"
"......"
Blood Ghost.
No—the thing before her was a Blood Demon.
The martial world's eternal nemesis. An undying monster.
Ji-yeon gripped her iron fan tightly and drew a sharp breath.
Her sanity teetered on the brink, so she squeezed her eyes shut—
"Excuse me."
"...!!!"
The voice came from right in front of her.
She'd been at least twenty paces away.
Her eyes snapped open.
"This girl merely asked for Little Sword Phoenix's name."
"Ah......"
The girl, her expression unreadable, smiled sweetly in front of Ji-yeon and unleashed her killing intent.
"Comparing me to some evil faction scum? You must not be right in the head."
The girl promptly raised her wooden sword.
That was the last thing Ji-yeon saw before blacking out.
Wudang swordsmanship relied heavily on rotations.
It focused on redirecting the opponent's force, parrying and countering their blade.
To imitate it, I closed my eyes and recalled the Wudang lightness skill and sword techniques from the novels.
Slowly, black and white energies rose around me.
'Whoa.'
I marveled inwardly.
My body felt insanely light.
Glancing down, I saw I was hovering slightly off the ground.
Not just light.
I was floating in midair.
'Is this Cloud-Stepping Stride...?'
A top-tier movement technique, by the sound of its name. Yet the girl before me...
"B-Blood... Ghost...?"
"Tch."
[P-Please... hold back... hold back, Little Sword Phoenix...]
Was spouting nonsense like I was some Blood Ghost.
No one in their right mind would say that to my face.
I tried to let it slide once.
"Ack!?"
"...?"
[Oh dear...]
I'd only raised my wooden sword and taken one step forward, but the woman before me crumpled to the ground.
"M-Must've bumped into her by accident..."
[Little Sword Phoenix, at least check if she's still breathing.]
"R-Right!"
Startled, I hurriedly checked if the woman was still alive.