Chapter 6
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: So This Is Your Daughter, Huh? (2)
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Her head looked a bit caved in, but Ji-yeon hadn't breathed her last just yet.
The thread of fate heaven had spun for her apparently didn't snap here.
"...Ahem! As a righteous sect, we don't engage in meaningless killing!"
She puffed out her chest and declared it, but then my clothes rustled, and Snow Python poked its head out from my bosom with a pop.
[The righteous sects don't strike people whose names they don't even know just because they're pissed off, little one.]
"...Cowardly."
[...D-Dare you call this lord cowardly?]
I shot it a glare, and Snow Python whimpered, shrinking back.
Watching it, I instructed it to crawl out onto my arm instead of my chest from now on—nothing clingy.
"Revered."
[What did you say—]
"......"
[I'm sorry...]
Snow Python apologized and ducked back inside.
It had the voice of a young girl itself, yet it sure loved to talk.
"Fa...ther......"
"Talking in her sleep, huh."
Red liquid trickled from Ji-yeon's forehead.
I hadn't hit her that hard.
I'd agonized between the Nangong's Tyrant Sword Style and Wudang's Taiji Sword, then chosen Taiji to smack her with.
"Don't worry, everything will be fine," I said. "High spirits like you always bounce back, spoiled brat."
Judging by her attire, she seemed to be a daughter of the Zhuge Family.
The white-and-blue ensemble gave it away.
'But why are her eyes blue?'
They reminded me of that shaman from the comics I'd seen over there—eyes just like that color.
Wondering if she had some special ability, I poked the cheek of the woman lying there.
"Hngh."
"Urgh......"
She just groaned, refusing to wake up anytime soon.
Meanwhile, I sorted through my thoughts.
"Snow Python, looks like this Zhuge Family is the real deal."
[What do you mean?]
"The kid's too weak. All brains and no brawn, probably."
[...It's at least true to form, but the Zhuges here aren't weak by any means. Wrong answer, little one.]
Snow Python snorted with laughter.
Hey, that pisses me off.
-Smack!!!
[Kyaaack...!!]
Snow Python wailed, its tail wrapped around its head in agony.
Serves you right for ticking me off.
I let out a smirk.
"So, she's definitely a Zhuge?"
[Yeah, she is.]
Snow Python nodded.
Well, the context pointed to the Zhuge Family anyway—no one else would pull out an iron fan instead of a sword upon spotting an enemy.
I nodded along and sighed, rubbing my legs.
"My legs are killing me."
[Might be because you're not used to lightness skill yet.]
"Maybe. Still... felt good."
A smile slipped out.
Refreshing, that's the word.
Felt like I'd become a hidden master of the martial world. Great mood.
"But seriously, my legs hurt."
[Why not sit down somewhere?]
Snow Python had a point. Time to find a seat.
'Anyway, to prove I'm from a righteous sect, don't I need to talk to someone important?'
To confirm my righteous sect status, getting a certificate from the head of one of the Five Great Families—like the Zhuge Family head—would be ideal.
Might take a bit, though.
I scanned around for a comfy spot to sit.
"Urgh......"
"Perfect. Nice and squishy. Half-assed training, huh."
[L-Little one!?]
I turned the Zhuge girl into my chair.
So soft.
Countless bamboo groves stretched before the Zhuge Family estate.
Three men raced through them.
Zhuge Hyun-deok, head of the Zhuge Family and strategist of the Martial Alliance.
His eldest son, Zhuge Ji-cheon.
And the pride of the family, escort to the golden child Zhuge Ji-yeon.
The trio flew forward, kicking off bamboo stalks with their lightness skills.
'...I heard the report, but...'
About half a gak ago, the formation that had sprung up in the bamboo grove was no ordinary thing. Ji-yeon, who'd gone to investigate, had called for help from Hyun-deok and Ji-cheon.
That's what Ji-cheon had heard.
He sensed the air around them sharpened to a razor's edge.
'Someone surpassing even this lord in realm is here.'
Just from that keen air, Hyun-deok felt something beyond his own cultivation lurking nearby.
Ji-cheon, still at peak level, probably hadn't noticed.
They had to pick up the pace.
He had to save his daughter somehow.
"Young master."
"Yes, family head."
"...Speed up."
Hyun-deok surged ahead, leaving his son and escort behind, treading lightly through the bamboo.
'Please... please be safe.'
The closer he got, the more crushing the aura became—hard to even endure.
The bamboo grove clearly rejected Hyun-deok's presence.
All of nature bowing to one person.
'What, some high noble of the Long-Eared Clan?'
The Long-Eared Clan, who became one with nature, embracing all in this world.
They roamed the land in noble garb, blending with nature—a sect that welcomed everyone, like the Beggars' Sect leaders.
More skilled in illusions and formations than any Zhuge.
Worshippers of the World Tree. If they shared blood, at least talk would flow.
Unlike the black-skinned assassins of the dark tribes—most were scholarly folk who reasoned well.
But the unfamiliar energy wafting around told him this was no such person.
Soon, Zhuge guards lay collapsed in the foam at his feet.
"You...! Are you all right...!!"
Hyun-deok rushed over, checked one guard, and sighed in relief.
'...Still breathing.'
Thank heavens—the man before him hadn't perished.
'Not completely mad, then...'
Hope they could talk. But crushing anxiety gripped Hyun-deok too.
No traces of battle anywhere.
A fight would've left sword marks at least.
None to be found.
The energy flowing around was merely serene.
"......"
Anxiety swelled.
Hyun-deok's heartbeat quickened.
[Ji-cheon.]
He transmitted mentally, piecing the situation together fast.
[Yes, Father.]
[Stay back.]
[...Father?]
Warning his son off, Hyun-deok drew a deep breath.
The air hung unnaturally still.
A chilling killing intent pressed down on him.
Not deliberate, it seemed.
'To emit this much killing intent toward enemies without even realizing...'
Where did this hidden master come from?
Overwhelming, even without facing her directly.
"Haa......"
Hyun-deok exhaled slowly cooling breath.
Bi-do brushes were already in his hands.
"Show yourself."
He hadn't noticed.
Right before his eyes, no less.
She hadn't used the guard as bait.
She could've ambushed him ages ago.
'The bamboo grove's edged with black smoke, oddly enough.'
Black mist thick enough to obscure vision.
No natural phenomenon, especially not in broad daylight.
Hyun-deok's eyes sharpened.
His eyes gleamed white, piercing the darkness.
The black fog retreated before his pure white inner energy.
Hyun-deok knew.
This was the opponent 'courteously' withdrawing their aura.
And there she appeared.
No inner energy detectable.
But he knew.
'This chill enveloping the entire grove... that's her inner energy.'
The aura blanketing the bamboo was hers.
A realm where she wielded nature itself as inner energy.
Even Hyun-deok, lower in realm, couldn't gauge its limits.
Regardless, the woman before him spoke.
"Nice to meet you."
For an opener like that.
'Ji-yeon...!!'
His daughter lay crushed beneath her, legs crossed casually atop.
Red eyes glowing in the dark, lustrous crimson hair.
Unmistakably a blood ghost.
The monsters who'd slaughtered countless righteous warriors.
Undying abominations had resurfaced.
Hyun-deok's gut twisted.
Even in texts, they'd seemed vile.
Now one sat on his daughter.
Blood trickled in a line from her forehead.
Seeing the woman rise, Hyun-deok seethed with rage.
She was clearly stronger than him.
His attacks would all be parried, no doubt.
But.
When a daughter was in peril, a father's reason.
"You're the head of the Zhuge Fam—"
"...You bastard."
"......"
"A blood ghost."
Flew straight out.
Hyun-deok's face was set with resolve.
Ha-yeon, her words cut off by him, scowled and shot back.
"This lowly thing said the same to me. So this brat really is your daughter, huh."
She prodded Ji-yeon's side with the wooden sword she'd fashioned herself.
-Whoooosh!!!!
Killing intent exploded—not Hyun-deok's.
The moment Ha-yeon's mouth closed, an aura that could shatter everything crushed down on Hyun-deok.
The man who seemed to be the Zhuge Family head halted abruptly.
'...I figured as much.'
I knew he'd call me some evil faction trash, but the shock lingered.
[Go easy, little one.]
Snow Python's worried voice reached me.
Yeah, yeah, easy does it.
Even seeing Wudang techniques for the first time.
To compare that noble righteous sect martial art to evil faction trash—no, the lowliest blood ghost.
"Time to fix that rotten Zhuge mindset of yours."
I'd really meant to go easy.
For real.
The wooden sword hummed.
The family head—Father—charged ahead.
The air throughout the bamboo grove trembled wildly.
I'd told them not to approach further.
"Escort."
"...Yes, young master."
"From now on, don't call me young master. I'm just a son fulfilling his duty to his father."
He had to aid Father.
"If even you go, young master, the Zhuge Family is...!!!"
The escort protested.
But Ji-cheon ignored him and plunged into the grove.
And behind him.
"Father...!!!"
His father on one knee, and a girl who didn't even look eight facing him with a wooden sword.